Mika Zibanejad celebrates a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first round of the 2013 NHL playoffs.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
The Ottawa Senators were busy on the eve of the NHL draft getting new contracts done for restricted-free-agent forwards Mark Stone and Mika Zibanejad.
Stone's deal is for three years and worth U.S. $10.5-million, while Zibanejad received a $5.25-million, two-year contract.
"Obviously they are two young players with bright futures for the organization," general manager Bryan Murray said on his way from Las Vegas to South Florida for the NHL draft.
There's still work left as Ottawa needs to sign RFA forwards Mike Hoffman and Alex Chiasson. That may come down to arbitration.
"It doesn't look at this moment like we're making a lot of progress, and they both have arbitration rights and it looks like that's where they want to head, so we'll prepare accordingly," Murray said.
The Senators don't need to worry about that with Stone and Zibanejad.
Stone, Ottawa's Calder Trophy finalist, will count $3.5-million against the cap. He'll make $2.25-million next season, $3.75-million in 2016-17 and $4.5-million in 2017-18.
The 23-year-old finished second in rookie-of-the-year voting to Florida Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad. Stone had 47 points in his final 46 games of the season to help lead the Senators from out of the race to a playoff spot.
"Mark became one of our better players, if not one of the best, right at the end of the year in particular, but throughout the stretch run and when we were trying to make the playoffs," Murray said. "Not only did he score a number of goals but he stole a lot of pucks and played honest, two-way hockey."
The 22-year-old Zibanejad set career highs with 20 goals, 26 assists and 46 points this past season. He'll make $2-million next year and $3.25-million in 2016-17.
"We think that Mika on a two-year deal gives him the opportunity to take the next step in his career to become a key centre-iceman for the Senators," Murray said. "We're very happy with his progress to this point in time and we think he has a bright future."