The Ottawa Senators secured a key piece of their blue line on Friday, signing defenseman Jordan Spence to a four-year contract extension. The team also announced the acquisitions of goaltender Samuel Ersson from the Philadelphia Flyers and forward Andre Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken.
Spence's New Deal
Spence, 24, was set to become a restricted free agent this summer. The contract extension carries an average annual value of $4.5 million, according to sources familiar with the deal. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound right-shot defenseman recorded 8 goals and 32 assists for 40 points in 76 games last season, averaging 20:14 of ice time per game.
"Jordan has developed into a reliable top-four defenseman for us," said Senators general manager Steve Staios in a statement. "His hockey IQ, puck-moving ability, and competitiveness make him an important part of our core moving forward."
Acquiring Ersson
In a separate move, the Senators acquired goaltender Samuel Ersson from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a 2027 third-round draft pick and prospect forward Oskar Pettersson. Ersson, 25, posted a 2.89 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage in 45 games with the Flyers last season.
"Samuel is a young, athletic goaltender who has shown he can handle a heavy workload at the NHL level," Staios said. "We believe he will complement our goaltending group and push for playing time."
Burakovsky Trade
The Senators also announced the acquisition of forward Andre Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken for a 2026 fourth-round pick. Burakovsky, 29, had 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points in 62 games last season. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound winger is a Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022.
"Andre brings veteran experience and offensive depth to our forward group," Staios added. "His speed and shot will be assets on our power play and in even-strength situations."
Impact on the Roster
The moves signal the Senators' intent to build on their playoff appearance this past season, where they were eliminated in the first round by the Florida Panthers. With Spence locked up long-term and the additions of Ersson and Burakovsky, Ottawa aims to solidify its defensive and goaltending depth while adding scoring punch up front.
The team now has approximately $12 million in salary cap space remaining for the upcoming season, according to CapFriendly.
