Ottawa re-signs Stone, but only for one year
OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators avoided salary arbitration with Mark Stone on Friday, signing the winger to a one-year contract worth US$7.35 million.
The club also saw the arbitrator in its case with Cody Ceci award the defenceman $4.3 million for the coming season.
Stone’s deal came just as the Senators and the restricted free agent were set to have a hearing to determine the player’s contract for the 2018-19 National Hockey League season.
Stone had reportedly asked for $9 million in arbitration, while the team countered at $5 million.
The 26-year-old from Winnipeg, who can now become an unrestricted free agent next summer, tied for the Senators’ lead with 62 points in just 58 games in a lost 2017-18 campaign as the club stumbled to a 30thplace finish.
“We’re happy to have Mark under contract,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in a quote posted to the team’s official Twitter feed. “Mark is a great leader in every sense; a character person, passionate competitor and a talented two-way player.
“Signing him is the first step in a process that allows us to continue to negotiate a long-term deal in the new year.”
As it stands, Stone, star defenceman Erik Karlsson and centre Matt Duchene — Ottawa’s three best players — will all head into the coming season as pending unrestricted free agents.
The Senators and Ceci had their arbitration hearing on Wednesday, with the restricted free agent reportedly asking for $6 million, and the club coming in at $3.35 million.
The arbitrator’s decision is $1.7 million less than what Ceci is thought to have wanted and $950,000 more than Ottawa’s number.
If he doesn’t agree to a longterm deal with the Senators before next summer, Ceci will once again become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.
Stone has scored at least 20 goals in each of his four full NHL seasons, and registered a careerhigh 42 assists last year.
His 381 takeaways since the start of 2014-15 rank him first in the NHL, 84 more than the next closest player.
Stone made $3.5 million in each of the last three seasons.