Senators Make Huge Investment in Jake Sanderson

All it took was one season — a very impressive rookie season — for the Ottawa Senators to realize what they've got in defenseman Jake Sanderson. They've decided to wait no longer, and have locked him up for eight years with a massive extension.

Sanderszn just got a whole lot longer!! 😏⁰⁰

The #Sens have signed defenceman Jake Sanderson to an 8-year extension!⁰⁰#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/6ptELYAUnB

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) September 7, 2023

It's a $64.4 million contract extension, just over $8M AAV and kicks in in 2024-25. It includes a 10-team no-trade clause that kicks in in the final three seasons. He now becomes the 5th Senator in the $8M AAV range, as they've locked up their core for the future. 

The 5th overall selection in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Sanderson did not disappoint in his first year at the top level, playing nearly 22 minutes a night, becoming a staple in their top-four on D, logging significant time on the penalty-kill and even seeing big ice-time on the power play as the season went along. He posted 32 points, and was named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team.

The Senators made a similar long-term gamble with a youngster with minimal experience last year, signing forward Tim Stützle to an 8-year deal worth $66M after just two seasons, and it paid off big-time with a breakout 39-goal, 90-point season. They also made an almost identical move with top blueliner Thomas Chabot in 2019, with an 8-year, $64M contract after just two full seasons. 

They're hoping for the same kind of success with this proactive move with Sanderson.

Photo: Jason Mowry-USA TODAY Sports