BY IAN MENDES,
Sportsnet.ca
Matt Carkner’s storybook season with the Senators just keeps getting better.
The rugged defenseman, who grew up just outside of Ottawa, signed a two-year contract extension with the NHL club on Tuesday afternoon.
The 28-year-old came into training camp as a longshot to make the team, but his strong play has earned him a permanent spot on the blueline this season and beyond. The new contract extension is worth $700,000 per season and is a one-way deal for Carkner, who will be under contract through the 2011-2012 season.
“I’m thrilled – I couldn’t be in a better place right now,” Carkner said. “The whole year has been a dream come true. It couldn’t have worked out better. I was pretty happy with the contract I got.”
“Over the last two days we made the decision to reward this guy,” added Senators general manager Bryan Murray. “He brings an attitude and a toughness. When you have people like that available to you, you definitely want to keep them around.”
Carkner and defense partner Alexandre Picard have been Ottawa’s most dependable pair in the first seven games of the season, as they lead the team in plus/minus rating. Carkner scored his first career NHL goal in the Senators home opener on Oct. 8 against the NY Islanders.
Now that Murray has locked up Carkner, his attention is turned towards locking up another one of his rugged defenseman. Anton Volchenkov is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and Murray would like to open negotiations in the next few weeks.
“We are going to talk to him soon. We would like to do something with Anton absolutely,” Murray said.
