21-year-old defenseman Jake Sanderson has signed a lucrative eight-year, $64.4 million contract extension with the Ottawa Senators.

The Ontario team made the announcement in a press release on Wednesday evening. The young defender still has a year to go on his three-year entry contract; this new agreement will therefore begin during the 2024-2025 season. He will then pocket an average annual salary of 8.05 million.

“Jake’s transition to professional play has been flawless,” said general manager Pierre Dorion. He is a very mature young man who demonstrates an ability to play important minutes with composure. He has the talent to be one of the NHL’s most complete defensemen for years to come. »

Sanderson is a first-round pick, fifth overall, of the Senators in 2020. In his first season on the Bettman League last year, he had 4 goals and 28 assists in 77 games.