It's playoffs or bust for the Ottawa Senators in 2023-24. Ryan Kennedy and Mike Stephens preview their season. Jake Sanderson [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE5NjY2NDIxMzI3MjI0/usatsi_20222767_168400847_lowres.jpg] Jake Sanderson The Ottawa Senators unveiled a significant signing on Wednesday night, announcing the team signed Jake Sanderson to an eight-year contract extension. Sanderson's new deal, which kicks in for the 2024-25 season and lasts until 2031-32, is worth $8.05 million per year. It also includes a 10-team no-trade clause for the final three years. The 21-year-old defenseman is now under contract through the rest of his 20s, with one season left on his entry-level deal. The Senators selected Sanderson fifth overall in the 2020 NHL draft, two picks after choosing Tim Stutzle at third overall. Sanderson played one more season at the University of North Dakota in the NCAA, which included appearing on Team USA at the world juniors as the captain and at the Beijing Winter Olympics, before turning pro last season. In 77 games, Sanderson recorded four goals and 28 assists while recording an average of 21:55 time on ice per game. His 32 points ranked eighth on the Sens, second among Senators defensemen and second among NHL rookie D-men, just trailing Buffalo's Owen Power by three points. His 147 blocks ranked him first among rookie NHL blueliners and tied him for 25th place overall. “Jake’s transition to the pro game has been flawless,” Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion said in a statement [https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/ottawa-senators-sign-defenceman-jake-sanderson-to-eight-year-contract-extension]. “He’s a very mature young man who demonstrates a routine and skillful ability to play important minutes with poise. An effortless skater who holds himself to a high standard, he has the talent to be one of the best all-around defensemen in the NHL for years to come. We’re very pleased to have another significant member of our core group of players under long-term contract.” Sanderson has a 5-on-5 expected goals percentage of 50.62 percent as a 21-year-old playing those important minutes, according to naturalstattrick.com [https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20222023&thruseason=20222023&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&stdoi=oi&rate=n&team=OTT&pos=S&loc=B&toi=0&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410&lines=single&draftteam=ALL]. Considering the Senators control the play and generate scoring chances over half the time Sanderson's on the ice, it's little wonder why GM Pierre Dorion and the front office took a calculated risk to lock him in as long as possible. It's now up to Sanderson to keep taking steps forward as a player while the team plays him in a sustainable way. Ottawa's defense core includes 26-year-old Thomas Chabot under contract until 2028, 27-year-old Artem Zub locked in until 2027, and 25-year-old Jakob Chychrun on the books for the next two seasons. Sanderson's also part of the young Senators core that includes 23-year-old captain Brady Tkachuk, 21-year-old Stutzle and 24-year-old Josh Norris, each under contract until at least 2028. After making this move, Ottawa already has 16 players under contract for the 2024-25 season with a projected cap space of about $9.5 million, per PuckPedia. However, the salary cap is expected to rise ahead of next season. The Senators haven't made the playoffs since the 2016-17 season. They finished six points out of a playoff spot with a 39-35-8 record last campaign. They're in competition with Eastern Conference clubs such as the Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals as teams who missed out on the post-season last year but appear determined to make it this time around.
