The Ottawa Senators signed defenceman Dillion Heatherington to a two-year, two-way contract extension Thursday.
Heatherington would have become an unrestricted free agent next week.
The first year of the deal is worth $750,000 in the NHL and $325,000 in the American Hockey League while the second year carries an annual value of $775,000 in the NHL and $325,000 in the AHL.
The 27-year-old from Calgary appeared in nine games for the Senators this season after joining the club as a free agent. He primarily played for the AHL's Belleville Senators, recording 13 points (two goals and 11 assists) in 45 games during the regular season plus one goal in two playoff games.
"Dillon's leadership this season was key to helping our defensive prospects in Belleville grow as players," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in a statement. "He was a player we quickly identified that would be key to Belleville's success moving forward. He filled in capably for us in Ottawa last year and showed us he has the smarts and high hockey IQ necessary to be an NHL defenceman."
Heatherington was drafted in the second round, 50th overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2013 but never played a game for the franchise and was traded to the Dallas Stars in 2017. He has two assists in 20 career games with Dallas and Ottawa.
