Wideman brings Sens ‘offence, quickness’

After Chris Wideman saw the sign of a genuine NHL opportunity — Saturday’s trade of Eric Gryba to the Edmonton Oilers — he didn’t wait long to re-sign with the Ottawa Senators.

Wideman, the American Hockey League’s defenceman of the year in 2014-15, agreed to a one-year extension on Monday, a deal that will pay him $600,000 if he stays in the NHL and $400,000 if he’s back with the Binghamton Senators. At this point, Wideman would appear to be No. 8 on the Senators’ depth chart — only an injury away from playing in the NHL.

“He brings offence, he brings quickness,” said Senators general manager Bryan Murray. “He’s a real complement to getting the puck out of our own end and helps the forwards a great deal in creating offence from the blue-line. He has a chance to play a number of games for us (in 2015-16).”

Wideman, whose size (5-10 and 170 pounds) and style are similar to two-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson, scored 19 goals and 42 assists with Binghamton in 2014-15, but his path to the bigleague Senators appeared blocked because of the logjam ahead of him.

Wideman, who was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, was looking up at a group that included Karlsson, Marc Methot, Cody Ceci, Patrick Wiercioch, Mark Borowiecki, Gryba, Jared Cowen and Chris Phillips.

Yet after Gryba was traded away to Edmonton for a package including minor-league centre Travis Ewanyk and the 107th overall draft pick (the Senators selected defenceman Christian Wolanin), Wideman saw, in the words of Murray, “the light at the end of the tunnel.”

“It was a better fit here, I’m excited to be here and I’m looking forward to training camp,” Wideman told TSN 1200 on why he chose Ottawa rather than testing free agency.

“I’m planning on coming to Ottawa in late July and spending the rest of the summer there.”

Wideman, 25, was originally drafted 100th overall by the Senators in 2009.

While the Senators defence appears set, a few question marks remain up front. Murray says he continues talks to try to re-sign winger Erik Condra before unrestricted free agency begins July 1. The Senators’ general manager also believes that restricted free agent wingers Mike Hoffman and Alex Chiasson will entertain their salary arbitration rights.

As for signing any additional free agents on Canada Day, Murray says it’s unlikely.

“We’ll wait and see, and make a few calls and talk to a number of agents, but we’re in pretty good shape,” he said.