The Ottawa Senators have signed forward Zack Ostapchuk to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Ottawa selected Ostapchuk in the second round (39th overall) at the 2021 NHL Draft and is the first Senators player from the 2021 draft class to sign with the team.
The St. Albert, Alta., will play in his first NHL pre-season game for the Senators against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.
“Zack has had an exceptional camp and we are excited about watching his development this season,” said Senators general manager Pierre Dorion in a statement. “He possesses the necessary tools in terms of size, skill and skating ability that we feel are key attributes in today’s NHL. Zack’s strong hockey sense and work ethic will serve him well as he trends towards becoming a full-time pro. Credit to Trent Mann and his amateur scouting staff who identified a prospect we feel is well on his way to helping the future of the organization.”
The 18-year-old played in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants where he posted seven goals and 16 points and penalty minutes during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season. He made a strong impression during rookie camp, earning a chance to play on a line with fellow top prospects Shane Pinto and Egor Sokolov.
