Free Agent Frenzy is officially upon us. 

The Ottawa Senators got the day started early on Saturday, agreeing to terms with defenseman Erik Brannstrom on a one-year contract extension worth $2 million. 

The deal keeps Brannstrom and the Senators from opting for arbitration this summer and also keeps the young defender's RFA right intact upon expiry. 

After a rocky start to his young NHL career, Brannstrom finally gets his first payday. The 23-year-old took a step forward in his development with the Senators in 2022-23, setting offensive career highs across the board with two goals and 16 assists for 18 points in 74 games while averaging upwards of 16 minutes in nightly ice time, playing with poise and confidence that he hadn't had in years past. 

With Brannstrom now locked in, the Senators have five defensemen under contract on their roster at the moment, leading some to wonder whether or not GM Pierre Dorion and his front office will be major players in the free-agent market to fill out their blueline when it opens at noon ET. 

Stay tuned. The deals are only just starting to come in.