Greening all smiles after signing extension
Forward’s three-year deal worth an average of $2.65 million US
Scratch the name Colin Greening off the long list of pending National Hockey League free agents.
The big forward signed a three-year extension on Monday that locks him up as an Ottawa Senator through the 2016-17 season.
In the extension, Greening earns $2 million US, $2.75 million and $3.2 million for an average, or salary-cap hit, of $2.65 million.
Greening, a 6- foot-2, 217-pound proud native of St. John’s, was entering the final year of a three-year deal he signed in 2011.
In three NHL seasons, all with Ottawa, Greening has 31 goals and 38 assists in 153 games. Last season, he played in 47 of the club’s 48 regularseason games and produced eight goals and 11 assists.
He also had three goals and an assist in 10 playoff games. Most famously, a gash across his cheek from a splintered hockey stick made Greening the grinning, but bloody symbol of an overtime victory against the Montreal Canadiens. Greening, with stick fragments still in his cheek, scored the OT winner.
On Monday, he was all smiles again after signing a fresh deal with Senators general manager Bryan Murray.
“That I’m actually in their plans is great, it’s gratifying for me, and I hope that I can be the player they want me to be and help this team gain further success down the road,” Greening said.
Greening called the playoff victory over the Canadiens “exciting” and said he hoped the young team would learn from the experience of losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference semifinal.
As for the Senators, they’re pleased to have one of their strong young players signed before he approaches the status of an unrestricted free agent. Murray said the extension gave Greening “a chance to be a permanent player on this roster and gives us the comfort of knowing we have a good young player who can play a variety of roles for us.”
To that end, Murray said he saw potential for Greening to be a top-six forward, with a power play net presence, but also a responsible two-way forward.
Even with Greening signing an extension, the Senators still have several players whose deals expire after this season, including potential unrestricted free agents Chris Phillips, Milan Michalek, Joe Corvo and Matt Kassian.
Potential restricted free agents include Cory Conacher, Jim O’Brien, Eric Gryba and Robin Lehner.
COWEN WAITING
Still unsigned for 2013-14 is defenceman Jared Cowen.
Cowen’s agent, Rick Valette, said Monday there was nothing new to report, as the camp of the restricted free agent was “still waiting to hear back from the Senators.”
The Senators have made unsuccessful pitches to resign Cowen this summer.