The Ottawa Senators are betting on young defenseman Donovan Sebrango, signing him to a one-year extension that could see him split time between the NHL and AHL.
It’s a big moment for the 23-year-old, who got his first taste of NHL action last season when he suited up for two games with the Sens.
Those appearances were brief – just over 20 minutes of total ice time – but they marked an important milestone in his development.
The real story, though, is how Sebrango finally found his scoring touch this year. After struggling to put up points early in his pro career, he exploded for 20 points in 50 games with the Belleville Senators of the AHL.
That’s quite a jump from his previous numbers. In his earlier AHL stint with the Grand Rapids Griffins, he managed just 18 points across 135 games.
His first partial season in Belleville wasn’t much different, with only seven assists in 35 games.
But something clicked this year. Combining his newfound offensive skills with his already solid defensive game caught the Senators’ attention.
The Detroit Red Wings originally picked Sebrango in the third round of the 2020 draft, after he put up 56 points in 118 games in junior hockey with the OHL.
This one-year deal gives him a perfect opportunity to prove last season wasn’t a fluke. If he can build on that success, he might find himself playing more NHL games – and earning an even better contract next summer.
The Senators still have one more restricted free agent to sign: fellow defenseman Max Guenette.
