The Ottawa Senators announced that they have signed center Zack Smith to a four year contract extension. The deal will carry a cap hit of $3.25MM and will pay that amount in each year of the deal which runs through the 2020-21 season. Smith also receives a limited no-trade clause, ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun adds (Twitter link).
The contract represents a sizable jump in pay as he’s currently earning a $2.3MM salary (with a cap hit of $1.88MM) this season. He was slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July.
Smith has spent his entire career with Ottawa after being drafted in the third round (79th overall) back in 2008. After spending the early part of his career as a bottom six grinder, he has shown more offensive upside as of late.
This season, Smith has 11 goals and 11 assists in 22 games while averaging a career best 16:13 of ice time per game. This comes on the heels of a career-best 25 goal and 36 point campaign in 2015-16.
In his career, the 28 year old has played in 443 NHL games, scoring 75 goals and 61 assists while adding 530 penalty minutes. He has turned himself into a reliable player at the faceoff dot as well, winning more than half of his draws in four of the last five seasons, including a 52.8% clip this year.
The contract ensures that their top three centers are locked up for next season; Kyle Turris has one year left on his deal after this season while Derick Brassard is inked for two more years. Overall, the Sens have seven forwards signed for 2017-18 at a combined cap hit of $32.3MM, per Cap Friendly.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.