Pierre Dorion hears it.
In a summer spent negotiating for Alex DeBrincat and Cam Talbot, eliminating Matt Murray and signing Claude Giroux, the Ottawa Senators general manager spent some time expanding one of the team’s core pieces, closing in on Josh Norris in a maximum of eight years. -Contract lasting Thursday.
“We are very pleased to have reached a long-term agreement with Josh,” Dorion said in a press release. “He’s a versatile striker who continues to mature as an outstanding NHL player. His scoring ability has already proven to be a considerable asset to us and will help us reach the next level.”
Norris will earn just $ 8 million per season with a deal totaling $ 63.6 million. He will get a little less annually than captain Brady Tkachuk and star defender Thomas Chabot in the team’s internal hierarchy, with all three blocked by lengthy deals.
It’s definitely a bit of a dice roll for the Senators, who only have two seasons of NHL data from the third-year professional. That said, Norris has been extremely productive in his 125 career games at the highest level, contributing 52 goals and 90 points along with a solid portfolio of advanced metrics.
The Ottawa core has suddenly become expensive, with Tkachuk, Chabot, Norris, Giroux, DeBrincat and Drake Batherson earning more than $ 42 million combined, or more than half the salary cap. This happens with DeBrincat, the team’s most reliable goal scorer on paper, owes a new contract at the end of next season.
The Josh Norris deal is the latest move in what has been a busy summer for senators. (Photo by Scott W. Grau / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Dorion made up for more than $ 8 million in salary by dealing with Murray and winger Connor Brown earlier this weekend, creating the maximum flexibility needed to add Talbot and Giroux and cover part of the Norris extension.
Senators are expected to be close to a team with more than $ 11 million to spend and four or five contracts to sign.
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