Senators sign Tkachuk to three-year contract

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators have signed forward Brady Tkachuk to a three-year, entrylevel contract.

The 18-year-old St. Louis native was selected fourth overall by Ottawa in the first round of last month’s National Hockey League draft.

Tkachuk led the Boston University Terriers with 23 assists in his freshman season and ranked second on the team in plus/minus rating at plus-15.

The six-foot-three, 192-pound winger helped the United States to a bronze medal at the 2018 world junior hockey championship. He finished in a tie for fifth in scoring with three goals and six assists.

“Brady Tkachuk exemplifies all the attributes around which we want to improve the Ottawa Senators,” general manager Pierre Dorion said in a statement.

“He is a young man of exceptional character. We know how much he agonized over leaving Boston University, and we are encouraged by the degree of accountability and commitment this shows from him.”

Tkachuk is the son of former NHL forward Keith Tkachuk and the brother of current Calgary Flames winger Matthew Tkachuk.

Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils have signed forward Kevin Rooney to a two-year contract.

General Manager Ray Shero announced the contract Monday.

Shero said the first year will be a two-way deal in which Rooney will earn $700,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the American Hockey League level, with $70,000 guaranteed.

The second year is worth $700,000 at the NHL level.

Rooney played in 71 games for the Binghamton Devils of the AHL last season, collecting 14 goals and 20 assists.

The 25-year-old appeared in one NHL game, and five in his two years as a pro.