Veteran defenceman Mark Fraser is joining his hometown Ottawa Senators on a two-way contract, Sportsnet has learned.
The 28-year-old had been attending training camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs on a tryout but was released from that agreement on Monday morning.
Ottawa entered the market for a depth defenceman last week after prospect Mikael Wikstrand bolted for Sweden. He’s since been suspended by the team.
Fraser will likely start the year with Binghamton of the American Hockey League. His deal calls for him to be paid $125,000 in the AHL and $800,000 in the NHL this season.
Fraser was the last remaining PTO at Leafs camp — Brad Boyes was signed to a one-year deal on Sunday while Curtis Glencross and Devin Setoguchi were released — but was unlikely to earn a contract in Toronto.
The Ottawa native previously spent three years in the Maple Leafs organization and has strong ties to new general manager Lou Lamoriello, who selected him in the third round of the 2005 draft while with New Jersey and brought him back to play for the Devils last season.
During a nine-year pro career Fraser has appeared in more than 500 games — 224 of which came in the NHL with New Jersey, Toronto and Edmonton.
