At just over $8 million AAV, Sanderson will become the Senators' highest-paid defenceman next year.
There's no shortage of Ottawa Senators fans who believe that, as a rookie last season, Jake Sanderson had already established himself as the club's top defenceman.
Whether that's true yet or not may be up for some debate, but starting next season, Sanderson will definitely be the top-paid defenceman on the team.
The 21-year-old signed an eight-year contract extension Wednesday night with an average annual value of just over $8 million ($8.05M). That will move him just past Thomas Chabot, who makes $8 million a year on the nose. Sanderson's contract also includes a 10-team, no-trade clause, which kicks in during the final three years of his deal.
“Jake’s transition to the pro game has been flawless,” GM Pierre Dorion said in a press release. “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 defencemen 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.”
Starting next year, Sanderson becomes the fifth Ottawa Senator locked up long-term at or near the $8 million mark. The others are Tim Stutzle (8 more years), Brady Tkachuk (5 years), Thomas Chabot (5 years) and Josh Norris (7 years). Other core players signed long-term (to less money) include Joonas Korpisalo (5 years), Drake Batherson (4 years), and Artem Zub (4 years).
Last season, Sanderson was named to the NHL's all-star rookie team, scoring 32 points in 77 games. He finished fifth in the league in penalty killing ice time average per game. And it will be interesting to see how head coach D.J. Smith divvies up power play time this season with Sanderson, Chabot and newcomer Jakob Chychrun.
Sanderson and Stutzle were both top five NHL draft picks just three years ago. Even the most optimistic fan would have looked at you sideways if you suggested this kind of generaational wealth would be flowing their way this soon. However, if we measure their deals by NHL standards, and compare them to what's going on around the league, it clearly won't be long before both extensions look like a complete steal.
Going from playing 45 games (total) in his previous two years of university hockey to playing 77 games as an NHL rookie was a huge jump for Sanderson. As good as he was last season, now that he's had the chance to adjust to the NHL pace and workload, there's little doubt that his best is yet to come.
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