The Ottawa Senators re-signed heavyweight winger Chris Neil on Saturday. The new deal will pay Neil $1.5 million next year, and will carry a modified no trade clause that includes ten teams he can't be traded to, according to Bob McKenzie.
Neil was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but the Senators wanted to keep the 36-year-old in the mix, according to the Ottawa Citizen, as Neil's leadership presence is invaluable to a young Senators group.
"Chris has long been someone who exemplifies strong work ethic and character while striving to be a leader and a good example for our young players," Senators GM Bryan Murray said, according to the Canadian Press. "On the ice, he's played quality minutes for us this season and continues to play an important role on our team."
Barring injury, Neil could become the third player in Senators franchise history to reach 1,000 games played with the club. Drafted by the Senators in the sixth-round of the 1998 NHL Draft, Neil has been at the core of the club since joining the team in 2001-2002, and currently sits at 955 games played, trailing only Chris Phillips and Daniel Alfredsson. Neil has seven goals and three assists in 62 games this season.
The Senators have been quiet in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline, but the club made a small splash re-signing of Neil, and through a minor league deal with the Buffalo Sabers involving seven players on Saturday. The Senators sent Alex Guptill, Eric O'Dell, Cole Schneider and Michael Sdao to the Sabers in exchange for Jason Akeson, Phil Varone and Jerome Leduc.