Senators’ Pageau gets a playoff payday

The Ottawa Senators have resigned forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau to a three-year contract with an average annual value of US$3.1 million.

Pageau will receive US$2.6 million in the contract’s first year, followed by payouts of US$3.3 million and US$3.4 million.

The 24-year-old native of Gatineau, Que., just across the river from Ottawa, led the Senators with eight goals in the post-season as the team advanced to the Eastern Conference final. The 2011 fourth-round pick had 12 goals and 21 assists in 82 regular-season games.

CAMPBELL ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT

Defenceman Brian Campbell is retiring at age 38 after playing 17 NHL seasons and winning the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.

The Blackhawks say he’ll join their business operations department, assisting with community and youth hockey initiatives.

“I’m excited to transition into the next step in both my professional career and life,” the fourtime all-star said in a statement.

Campbell had 87 goals and 417 assists for 504 points in 1,082 regular-season games with Buffalo, San Jose, Chicago and Florida.

GAUDREAU STICKING WITH PREDATORS

The Nashville Predators have signed forward Frederick Gaudreau to a three-year contract. For the first two years of the deal, Gaudreau’s contract will be worth US$650,000 when he’s in the NHL or US$70,000 when he’s in the American Hockey League. He’ll earn US$700,000 in 2019-20.

Gaudreau’s deal comes after a breakthrough post-season, as the 24-year-old scored his first three career NHL goals during the Stanley Cup final.