Tkachuk stalemate ends in 7-year, $57.5M contract with Senators

The Ottawa Senators re-signed forward Brady Tkachuk to a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $8.214 million, the team announced Thursday.

"This is an exciting day for the Ottawa Senators," general manager Pierre Dorion said. "Brady possesses a very dynamic skill set and is a prototypical power forward in today's NHL. He scores goals, he plays physical, and (he) exemplifies what it means to be a pro for all players in our organization."

Tkachuk was the NHL's last restricted free agent without a contract.

Negotiations lasted throughout the summer. It was reported earlier in October that Tkachuk wanted a short-term deal, while the club wanted a seven- or eight-year agreement.

Ottawa head coach D.J. Smith said earlier Thursday that the club won't name a captain yet but its leadership group will include Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot, Nick Paul, Connor Brown, and Nikita Zaitsev, according to Sportsnet.

The 22-year-old Tkachuk led the team in points last season for a second consecutive campaign, recording 36. He ranked second in the league in shots on goal (220), sixth in penalty minutes (69), and second in hits (248).

The Senators selected Tkachuk with the fourth pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. He headlines a group of youthful talent in Ottawa alongside the likes of Chabot, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, and Josh Norris.