Sens sign Keller to two-way deal

TSN is reporting this signing.

Source: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=280576

The Ottawa Senators signed free-agent forward Ryan Keller to a one-year, two-way contract on Monday.

Keller spent the last two seasons playing for the Espoo Blues of the Finnish Elite League. In 54 games with the Blues last season, the 25-year-old led the team in goals (21), assists (34) and points (55). He also led the Blues with 22 goals and 44 points, in addition to a team-high plus-minus rating of 22 in his first season in Finland in 2007-08.

Prior playing in Finland, Keller played 70 professional games over parts of two seasons with the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins and Syracuse Crunch, recording 15 goals, 17 assists and 54 penalty minutes.

Keller spent his entire major junior career with his hometown Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League. In four seasons, from 2001-05, Keller scored 120 goals and added 117 assists for 237 points in 257 games, while amassing 283 penalty minutes.

very smart by Murray, gave him options with the two way just in case Keller doesn't pan out, no word on the dollar figure yet? either way, we are coming out with a bonus player for cheap.

Likely in the neighborhood of 500K to 800K.

Dash wrote:Likely in the neighborhood of 500K to 800K.

that is very good considering he is not subject to entry level deal criteria since he was never drafted right?

Not too sure on those details, but this is very similar to Winchester, and possibly Frogren.

Dash wrote:Not too sure on those details, but this is very similar to Winchester, and possibly Frogren.

well let's hope its not similar to the Frogren deal, wasn't that one deemed wrong or something was off about it according to the league office.

550K tops I would imagine. It took long enough for this announcement though.

504Heater wrote:550K tops I would imagine. It took long enough for this announcement though.

waiting for league approval perhaps, since the frogren deal that cost the leafs that 2nd round pick?

N4L has me hopin big things for him. Lets hope he doesn't disappoint.

Nothing bad I can say about this. Great job.

can't wait to see this guy show up in training camp, and like Mustache said, N4L is hyping this guy up to challenge for a spot right out of camp and to add to that myself, makes Comrie expendable, good bye Mike.

SensFan71 wrote:

504Heater wrote:550K tops I would imagine. It took long enough for this announcement though.

waiting for league approval perhaps, since the frogren deal that cost the leafs that 2nd round pick?

True enough.

Oh wow...would I ever not be getting myself hyped up over this guy. It's a 2-way deal, meaning the Sens will likely start him off in Bingo. If he challenges for a spot, he'll have a season similar to Winchester I would imagine.

SensFan71 wrote:very smart by Murray, gave him options with the two way just in case Keller doesn't pan out, no word on the dollar figure yet? either way, we are coming out with a bonus player for cheap.

This is Keller's first NHL deal, which means it has to be 2-way. BM wasn't making any decisions here, just following standard NHL rules.

Same thing happened with Winchester, if you're looking for precedents. BM signed him to a 1-year, 2-way deal back in March of 2008 and then gave him one game. That burned away his 'entry-level' years (i.e., 25 and under). Then in May 2008 we signed him to another contract -- this one 2 years, 1-way -- and there we are.

Frogen's case is different, and an anomaly. The Leafs tried to treat him as a UFA, but the NHL ruled that, because he was once drafted, he was subject to the standard entry-level rules and contract. For their mistake, the Leafs had to cough up $500,000 and a 4th rounder.

SensFan71 wrote:can't wait to see this guy show up in training camp, and like Mustache said, N4L is hyping this guy up to challenge for a spot right out of camp and to add to that myself, makes Comrie expendable, good bye Mike.

Good bye Hilary