The Ottawa Senators made a notable move on Thursday, signing winger Fabian Zetterlund to a three-year contract worth $4.275 million per season. The deal, first reported by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, keeps the 25-year-old in the capital through the 2027–28 season and avoids the uncertainty of salary arbitration, which might have pushed his salary even higher.
Puckpedia.com has the salary breakdown as follows:
Year 1 $3.8M Salary
Year 2 $4.3M Salary
Year 3 $4.725M Salary
The deal does not include trade protection and covers 1 UFA season.
“We were pleased to acquire Fabian at the deadline last season and very happy to extend him for three more years,” GM Steve Staios said in a club statement. “He brings commitment and work ethic with a scoring touch to our group.”
Zetterlund, who was acquired by Ottawa at this year’s trade deadline, came over from the Sharks along with forward Tristen Robins and a 2025 fourth-round pick in exchange for Noah Gregor, Zack Ostapchuk, and a 2025 second-rounder.
The trade was part two of a busy deadline day for GM Steve Staios, who also picked up centre Dylan Cozens and defenceman Dennis Gilbert from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for centre Josh Norris and blueliner Jacob Bernard-Docker.
Zetterlund led the last-place Sharks with 24 goals in 2023–24 and was on pace for a similar total this year at the time of the trade. But after arriving in Ottawa, things didn’t immediately click. Slotted into the fourth line, Zetterlund’s production took a hit. In his first 13 games with the Sens, Zetterlund had 0 goals and 1 assist. He closed the season with 5 points in 20 games in Ottawa and failed to register a point in six playoff contests.
Head coach Travis Green eventually began experimenting with him in different spots in the lineup to jumpstart his offence, and while he seemed to have no shortage of chances, the results weren't there.
Still, Senators management is betting on a bounce-back, and history gives them reason to hope.
This isn't the first time Zetterlund has needed time to settle in. After being traded from New Jersey to San Jose during the 2022–23 season, he went goalless in 22 games to finish that year (0 goals, 3 points). The following season, he erupted for a team-leading 24 goals to go with 44 points on a rebuilding Sharks squad.
In Ottawa, he formed a quick off-ice connection with star centre Tim Stützle, who showed him the ropes, and invited him to stay at his place until he got settled. Zetterlund expressed a strong desire to stay in Ottawa when asked about it at season’s end. In fact, he was almost giddy about the notion.
At $4.275 million, he gets a healthy raise that maybe carries a little financial risk, but not the kind that handcuffs the club. If history repeats itself, the Senators may have just locked in a 24-goal scorer at a bargain rate.
It also hints at a succession plan. Is Zetterlund now in line to fill Claude Giroux’s role? That remains to be seen. But Zetterlund’s raise isn't so lucrative that it makes a deal with Giroux impossible.
Right now, according to Puckpedia.com, the Sens have $10.7 million in cap space, but they'd also like to save some of that money for upgrades this summer. They also have only nine NHL forwards under contract at the moment. If they sign Giroux and still want to do something meaningful this summer, then other players on the roster will almost certainly have to be moved out.
For now, Ottawa fans can look forward to seeing what Zetterlund can do with a full training camp, a clearer role, and a fresh start.
Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa
More Sens Headlines:
Would Kings Defenceman Jordan Spence Be A Fit With The Senators?
Still No Deal In Sight For Ottawa Senators Pending UFA Claude Giroux
Should The Senators Have Surrendered This Year's First-Round Draft Pick Instead?
Senators Bring Back First-Rounder For Second Tour Of Duty
Fashionably Late: Top 10 All-Time Ottawa Senator Draft Day Steals
Why The Notion Of Mitch Marner Signing With Ottawa Wouldn't Work