The Ottawa Senators have signed University of North Dakota defenceman Tyler Kleven to a three-year, entry-level deal, the team announced Wednesday.
Kleven had eight goals and 10 assists in 35 games with North Dakota this season — his third at the university. He opted to turn pro instead of returning to North Dakota for his senior season.
The Senators picked Kleven in the second round (44th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft.
Kleven played for the U.S. at the 2021 and ’22 World Junior Championships.
“We’re very pleased that Tyler has recently made the decision to begin his pro career,” said Senators general manager Pierre Dorion. “He’s a big, rangy, hard-nosed defender who maintains a physical presence while on the ice and an ability to hammer the puck with his shot. We’ve been especially impressed with his overall development dating to his draft year.”