Senators' Mike Hoffman not eager to sign long-term deal

Ottawa Senators forward Mike Hoffman is enjoying a breakout season as a 25-year-old rookie, pacing the team with 17 goals and matching Filip Forsberg of the Nashville Predators for most among rookies, but he's not ready to parlay that into a long term deal just yet.

"Depends how long," Hoffman said, according to Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun. "Three years, yeah, no problem. But five and six ... it would all depend on the numbers, right?"

Hoffman also leads the team with a plus-19 rating. He'll become a restricted free agent after the season.

"Sometimes it's hard to get a value or estimate on what you're worth, or what would be right for the player and the organization," Hoffman said. "We'll just have to see. I know it's not going to be a two-year (deal), that's the only thing I know, because that would put me to UFA after that.

"That's already been discussed. But other than that, not too much."

Hoffman is on pace for 28 goals this season, which would be the most by a Senator since Milan Michalek scored 35 in 2011-12.

"We do have a lot of fairly young guys in here," Hoffman said. "Everyone wants to win a championship one day. I think that's what the objective is in here."