Ottawa Senators Sign Erik Karlsson to Seven-Year Deal

The Ottawa Senators have locked up an important piece of their team by re-signing defenseman Erik Karlsson to a seven-year contract extension worth $45.5 million.  The deal averages out to $6.5 million per season.  He would have been a restricted free agent on July 1 and could have been a prime target for an offer sheet.  In 81 games this past season, he had 19 goals and 59 assists for 78 points.  He won the Norris Trophy this past Wednesday as the NHL's Top Defenseman for the 2011-12 season.  This is an excellent signing for the Senators, as Karlsson has loads of defensive upside.  He has exceptional offensive skill and hockey sense on the blueline, is a great skater, has excellent puck-moving ability, lots of talent on the power play, and a good shot.  Look for Karlsson to become one of the elite and top defenseman in the NHL over the next few seasons, as well as a likely annual finalist for the Norris Trophy.

Senators Sign Pat Cannone to Two-Year Extension

The Ottawa Senators have announced that they have re-signed center Pat Cannone to a two-year contract extension.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  He would have been eligible for restricted free agency this summer.  In 76 games this past season with Binghamton of the AHL, he had 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points.  This is really just a depth signing for the Senators, as Cannone will likely spend the majority of next season in the AHL, providing plenty of offensive depth for Binghamton.  If he sees any time in the NHL during the 2012-13 season, it will likely be as an injury replacement.

Senators Sign Peter Regin to One-Year Extension

The Ottawa Senators have announced that they have signed center Peter Regin to a one-year contract extension.  The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  He would have been a restricted free agent this summer.  In just 10 games this past season, he had two goals and two assists for four points.  He missed the majority of the 2011-12 season with a shoulder injury.  Not a bad depth signing for the Senators, as Regin has lots of speed, some playmaking skill, and some two-way ability.  He should continue to be a good fit on the team's checking lines next season.

Lightning Acquire Brian Lee from Senators for Matt Gilroy

The Tampa Bay Lightning remained busy on Trade Deadline Day by acquiring defenseman Brian Lee from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for defenseman Matt Gilroy. Lee will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while Gilroy will qualify for unrestricted free agency. In 35 games so far this season, Lee has one goal and seven assists for eight points, while Gilroy has two goals and 15 assists for 17 points in 53 games. Not a bad pick-up for the Lightning, as Lee will bring a good mix of size, offensive upside, and excellent skating to the team. Tampa Bay is clearly looking to improve their blueline for next season and they did that on Trade Deadline Day. As for the Senators, Gilroy should help them in their playoff push with his smooth skating and mobility.

Senators Acquire Ben Bishop from Blues, Sign Him to One-Year Deal

The Ottawa Senators announced on Sunday that they have acquired goaltender Ben Bishop from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a second round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft. Part of the trade also includes Ottawa signing Bishop to a new contract. The 25-year-old goaltender, who would have been eligible for group six unrestricted free agency this summer, will sign a one-year contract worth $650,000 on Monday. In 38 games this season with Peoria of the AHL, he has posted a 24-14-0 record, six shutouts, a 2.26 GAA, and a .928 save percentage. He last appeared in an NHL game during the 2010-11 season with the Blues. With Craig Anderson currently sidelined with a lacerated pinky finger, the Senators obviously felt they needed to add some quality goaltending depth and they got that in Bishop. Prospect Robin Lehner is not quite ready to take on starting duties, let alone for the playoffs, and Alex Auld may have a rough time handling several starts in a row, so Bishop is a great choice to help out in net. He has great size and is very agile, making him a good option in goal. Look for him to challenge hard for the backup role in Ottawa next season. As for the Blues, Bishop wasn't going to get very many starts with Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak as their goaltending tandem, so moving him to another team is a great move to give him an opportunity to secure a regular NHL role elsewhere.

Senators Acquire Rob Klinkhammer from Blackhawks

The Ottawa Senators announced today that they have acquired left wing Rob Klinkhammer from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a conditional seventh round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft. He will join Ottawa's AHL affiliate in Binghamton. In 18 games this season with Rockford of the AHL, he has two goals and four assists for six points. He has appeared in only one NHL game with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2010-11 season. This is nothing more than a depth move for the Senators, as Klinkhammer will likely spend the entire 2011-12 season in the minors.

Senators Sign Erik Condra to Two-Year Contract

The Ottawa Senators have announced that they have re-signed right wing Erik Condra to a two-year contract worth $1.25 million. The deal will pay him $600,000 next season and $650,000 in 2012-13. In 26 games last season with the Senators, he had six goals and five assists for 11 points. He also appeared in 55 games with Binghamton of the AHL, scoring 17 goals and 30 assists for 47 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Senators, as Condra was a fairly steady forward for the team after being recalled from the AHL. He has some offensive skill and has put up decent numbers at lower levels and will likely look to bring that success to the NHL level. With Ottawa rebuilding their team mainly with youth, look for Condra to see more time in the NHL next season playing a bottom-six forward role.

Senators Sign Zenon Konopka to One-Year Deal

The Ottawa Senators have announced that they have added some toughness to their lineup by signing center Zenon Konopka to a one-year contract worth $700,000. In all 82 games last season with the New York Islanders, he had two goals and seven assists for nine points and 307 penalty minutes. This is an okay signing for the Senators, as Konopka adds tons of grit and toughness to the checking lines and is always willing to drop the gloves and fight. However, he doesn't have a lot of offensive upside and takes lots of bad penalties, so he will likely be relegated to fourth line duties with limited ice time.

Senators Sign Alex Auld to One-Year Deal

The Ottawa Senators have announced that they have signed goaltender Alex Auld to a one-year contract worth $1 million. In 16 games last season with the Montreal Canadiens, he posted a 6-2-2 record, with a 2.64 GAA and a .914 save percentage. Not a bad depth signing for the Senators, as Auld will bring plenty of depth in goal as a backup. Although, he will likely have to compete for the backup role with Robin Lehner at training camp in September.

Senators Sign Francis Lessard to One-Year Contract

The Ottawa Senators have announced that they have re-signed right wing Francis Lessard to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 24 games last season with the Senators, he had no points and 78 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 36 games with Binghamton of the AHL, scoring two goals and one assist for three points and 187 penalty minutes. This is really just a depth signing for the Senators, as Lessard brings lots of grit and physical play to the team, but not a lot of offensive upside. More than likely, he will spend the majority of next season in the minors.

Senators Acquire Nikita Filatov from Blue Jackets

The Ottawa Senators announced on Saturday that they have acquired left wing Nikita Filatov from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a third round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. The Blue Jackets used the pick to select center Thomas Tynan. In 23 games last season with Columbus, Filatov had seven assists. He also appeared in 36 games with Springfield of the AHL, scoring nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points. He has one more year left on his current contract. This is a good low-risk move for the Senators, as Filatov has a lot of untapped offensive potential despite being extremely disappointing thus far in his career. If he doesn't pan out in Ottawa, the Senators don't have much to lose except giving up a third round pick. If he can better his offensive game, the Senators will have a very dynamic winger to help in their rebuild. As for Columbus, it comes as no surprise they moved Filatov given his offensive struggles at the NHL level so far. With the recent acquisition of Jeff Carter, it appears the Blue Jackets want to start a new era on offense.

Senators Re-Sign Forwards Zack Smith and Colin Greening

The Ottawa Senators announced today that they have re-signed center Zack Smith to a two-year contract extension and center Colin Greening to a three-year contract. Financial terms of both deals were not disclosed. Both players would have been eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 55 games this past season with the Senators, Smith had four goals and five assists for nine points and 120 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 22 games with Binghamton of the AHL, scoring seven goals and five assists for 12 points and 32 penalty minutes. Greening appeared in 24 games with the Senators this past season, scoring six goals and seven assists for 13 points. He also appeared in 59 games with Binghamton, scoring 15 goals and 25 assists for 40 points. These aren't bad depth signings for the Senators, as Smith and Greening have more than likely secured roster spots with the team for next season with their fine play during the 2010-11 campaign. Smith brings lots of grit and toughness to the checking lines, as well as some two-way ability and some skill to the penalty kill. Greening brings lots of size, defensive ability, and versatility to the forward lines, as he can also play on the wing. He should bring plenty of offensive depth to the checking lines for the next three years.

Senators Sign Craig Anderson to Four-Year Contract

The Ottawa Senators announced today that they have signed goaltender Craig Anderson to a four-year contract worth $12.75 million. The deal will average out to $3.18 million per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. He was acquired by the Senators on February 18 from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for goaltender Brian Elliott. In 44 games this season with the Avalanche and Senators, Anderson has a 19-19-3 record, one shutout, a 2.98 GAA, and a .908 save percentage. Not a bad signing for Ottawa, as Anderson has been a fairly steady goaltender for the team since his acquisition. He has solid goaltending skills and adds a lot of depth in goal for the team. Look for Robin Lehner to be Anderson's backup next season, or possibly split the goaltending duties depending on how both goalies fare throughout the course of the season.

Blackhawks Acquire Chris Campoli from Senators for Ryan Potulny

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that they have acquired defenseman Chris Campoli and a conditional seventh round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for center Ryan Potulny and a conditional second round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Both players will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. The conditional second round pick going to Ottawa will be Chicago's choice of three second picks they own in 2011. The seventh round pick going to Chicago is conditional on Potulny re-signing with Ottawa this summer. In 58 games this season with Ottawa, Campoli has three goals and 11 assists for 14 points. Potulny has appeared in three games this season with Chicago, scoring no points. He has also played in 58 games with Rockford of the AHL, scoring 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points. Not a bad move for the Blackhawks, as Campoli will bring some puckmoving skill to the team's defense, which will help with the loss of Jordan Hendry to a lower body injury. However, it remains to be seen if Chicago will be able to retain Campoli beyond this season given their salary cap constraints. Potulny will bring the Senators a bottom-six forward and some offensive depth to a team that has seen a mass exodus of players over the past several weeks. The biggest part of this trade for Ottawa is the conditional second round pick, which can help them restock their team with youth.

Senators Claim Curtis McElhinney Off Waivers from Lightning

The Ottawa Senators announced today that they have claimed goaltender Curtis McElhinney off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning acquired the 27-year-old goalie from the Anaheim Ducks on February 24 in exchange for goaltender Dan Ellis. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 21 games this season, he has a 6-9-1 record, two shutouts, a 3.43 GAA, and a .890 save percentage. This is really just a depth move for the Senators, as McElhinney will likely become the backup to Craig Anderson. Robin Lehner will likely be sent back to the minors for the rest of the season to help Ottawa's AHL affiliate in Binghamton make a push for the AHL playoffs.

Senators Sign Chris Phillips to Three-Year Extension

The Ottawa Senators announced late Sunday evening that they have signed defenseman Chris Phillips to a three-year contract extension worth $9.25 million. The deal averages out to $3.08 million and includes a no-movement clause. Phillips had been the subject of trade rumors for the last month as the Senators began a downward spiral through the standings that has left them in last place in the Eastern Conference. Instead of waiving his no-trade clause to facilitate a trade to another team by the February 28 trade deadline, Phillips opted to remain with the team to mentor the young players. In a rather disappointing season for the 32-year-old blueliner, he has one goal and four assists for five points in 62 games. This is a decent move for the Senators, as Phillips has always been a steady player back on the team's blueline. He is an excellent shutdown defenseman with good mobility and a decent shot and will be an excellent mentor for the younger defensemen in Ottawa, as well as provide some stability on the blueline.

Senators Claim Marek Svatos Off Waivers from Predators

The Ottawa Senators announced today that they have claimed right wing Marek Svatos off waivers from the Nashville Predators. The move was announced just after the Senators traded Alex Kovalev to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a conditional seventh round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Svatos will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He originally signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues on December 28, but was claimed off waivers by the Predators just a day later. In nine games with Nashville, he has one goal and two assists. He missed 13 games recently with a knee injury. This is really just a depth move for Ottawa, as they are in need of a little veteran depth on offense after trading Mike Fisher, Chris Kelly, Jarkko Ruutu, and Alex Kovalev in separate deals over the past two weeks. Svatos will bring plenty of offensive depth to the team down the wing for the remainder of the season.

Penguins Acquire Alex Kovalev from Senators

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that they have acquired right wing Alex Kovalev from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a conditional seventh round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. The pick will become a sixth rounder if the Penguins win the first round of the playoffs and Kovalev plays in at least fifty percent of the games. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Kovalev, who lifted his no-trade clause to facilitate the trade and will begin his second stint with Pittsburgh, has 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points in 54 games this season. Not a bad depth move for the Penguins, as Kovalev will bring plenty of offensive depth down the wing for the injury-ravaged team, but only as a playoff rental. The enigmatic forward will also bring some depth to the power play and lots of playoff experience to the team. Plus, the Penguins gave up next to nothing to get him, which shows the market for Kovalev was pretty dry.

Senators Acquire Craig Anderson from Avalanche for Brian Elliott

The Ottawa Senators announced today that they have acquired goaltender Craig Anderson from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for goaltender Brian Elliott. This is the fourth trade the Senators have made in the past week as GM Bryan Murray continues to revamp the roster. Elliott is the latest Senator to move, following forwards Jarkko Ruutu, Chris Kelly, and Mike Fisher. Anderson will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer, while Elliott will be eligible for restricted free agency. In 33 games this season with the Avalanche, Anderson has a 13-15-3 record, with a 3.28 GAA and a .897 save percentage, while Elliott has a 13-19-8 record, three shutouts, a 3.19 GAA, and a .894 save percentage in 43 games with Ottawa. This is a good trade for the Senators, as Anderson has decent goaltending skills and adds a lot of depth in goal despite struggling in Colorado this season. Despite being eligible for UFA status this summer, the Senators will likely try to get Anderson under contract prior to July 1, as long as he has a good run with the team for the rest of the season. If he does and Ottawa re-signs him, look for their goaltending tandem to be Anderson and Robin Lehner next season. Pascal Leclaire will also be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but Ottawa is unlikely to re-sign him due to his inconsistency and injury history while with the team. As for Colorado, they get a young goaltender in Elliott who covers a lot of area in net and is fairly quick on his skates, but is very inconsistent and can lose his positioning sometimes. He had a decent start to the 2010-11 season, but has struggled mightily in net for the past few months. If Elliott is able to improve his goaltending skills, this could be an okay trade for Colorado, but they were likely better off trying to re-sign Anderson for another year and see if he could improve.

Ducks Acquire Jarkko Ruutu from Senators

The Anaheim Ducks announced tonight that they have acquired left wing Jarkko Ruutu from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a sixth round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Ruutu will be eligible for unrestricted free agency at the end of the season. In 50 games so far this season, he has two goals and eight assists for 10 points and 59 penalty minutes. In 629 career NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Ottawa Senators, he has 57 goals and 83 assists for 140 points and 1040 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth move for the Ducks, as Ruutu plays with lots of toughness and is a very gritty, energetic, and agitating forward. He also brings a little two-way skill to the lineup and should be an effective checking line forward for the Ducks as they approach the playoffs.