Senators Ink Chris Tierney to Two-Year Extension
The centre will likely see an increased role this season.
Avoiding arbitration once again, the Ottawa Senators have signed RFA centre Chris Tierney to a two-year extension.
Chris Tierney has agreed to a two-year deal. First year 2.8M Second year is 4.2M AAV is 3.5 million. #Sens like what he brings to the table as a veteran.
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) October 26, 2020
As first reported by the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch, the deal carries an AAV of $3.5M, worth $2.8M in the first year and $4.2M in the second.
The 26 year-old Keswick, Ontario native has spent the last two seasons in Ottawa, after being acquired from the San Jose Sharks via the Erik Karlsson trade. Tierney has quietly tallied 20 goals and 65 assists for 85 points through 152 games. Playing every role from the top line to the fourth line, he’s functioned as something of a Swiss Army knife on a fledgling team.
A second-round pick of the Sharks in 2012, Tierney has now played the better part of six seasons in the NHL. He was a member of the San Jose team that reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2016, posting four goals and five assists through 24 playoff games.
The deal seems solid for both sides. Tierney will likely be asked to take on an increased role this season, given the Senators’ youth at the centre position. Depending on the development of youngsters like Tim Stützle, Josh Norris, and Logan Brown, it shouldn’t surprise fans to see a heavy dose of Tierney in the top six.
A two-year term, with a movable AAV if it comes to that, is ideal for the team.
Where things get interesting for Tierney, however, is the Seattle expansion draft. Based on his contract, and lack of a solidified role going forward, he seems like a prime candidate to be exposed to the league’s newest team. Whether the Kraken opt for him, or one of Ottawa’s inevitably exposed young players is anyone’s guess, but it’s an interesting question.
The Senators still have new deals to work out with, Christian Jaros, and Filip Chlapik. Jaros, has filed for arbitration, with his hearing scheduled for November 7th. Given the Senators’ tendency to avoid arbitration with the rest of their RFA’s, it seems like a foregone conclusion that the defender will be locked up fairly soon.