The Ottawa Senators are in the process of signing restricted free agent defenceman Jordan Spence to a four-year contract extension worth $5 million annually, according to league sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal is not finalized. Bruce Garrioch from Postmedia was the first to report the news.The 25-year-old just completed his first season with the Senators, scoring seven goals and 31 points in 73 games. Spence was acquired from the Los Angeles Kings at last year’s NHL Draft in exchange for a third-round draft choice and a sixth-round pick. The pending restricted free agent just completed a two-year, $3 million deal, originally signed with the Kings.Earlier this week, GM Steve Staios said there were “ongoing discussions” with the defenceman, who told the media at season’s end that he wished to stay in Ottawa.“I want to be here,” Spence said. “I think this year, I’ve gotten to know a lot of guys on this team, how we all like to hang out with each other. There are a lot of guys my age, too, that I played with before. It’s been a great season for me to get to know everyone and the style of hockey that we play. I really like it here, so hopefully I can.”
AFP Analytics projected a four-year, $19,531,200 extension for the defender carrying a $4,882,800 cap hit.What it meansSpence was acquired as a depth defenceman at last year’s draft, with the hope of cashing in on whatever upside he possessed. It resulted in a career-best season and contributed to different pairings as the Sens experienced defensive injuries. Spence even saw time with the team’s No. 1 defender, Jake Sanderson, being used in offensive situations while not giving up much defensively. And if needed, he serves as an alternate power-play quarterback if Sanderson or Thomas Chabot are unavailable.
