Restricted free agent forward Mark Stone and the Ottawa Senators have agreed to a one-year, $7.35 million contract, avoiding salary arbitration.
Stone was asking for $9 million, while the Senators are reportedly offering $5 million.
Stone, 26, tallied 62 points (20 G, 42 A) in 58 games last season with the Senators.The Winnipeg native was taken in the sixth round (128th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
A career Senator, Stone has 95 goals and 154 assists over 307 games. In his 27 playoff appearances with the Sens, he’s put up 13 points (5 G, 8 A) and was a key contributor during Ottawa’s 2016-2017 playoff campaign with five goals and three assists.
Stone is coming off a three-year, $10.5 million contract.
Barring a last-minute agreement, an arbitrator will also be announcing a decision on the salary of Senators defenceman Cody Ceci, as both sides had their hearing on Wednesday.
According to The Ottawa Sun, reports indicated that Ceci was asking for a $6 million salary, while the Senators countered with a $3.35 million offer.
Ceci, 24, made $2.8 million a season on his last contract - a two-year, $5.6 million deal signed in 2016.
He scored five goals and posted 19 points last season in 82 games and was second on the Senators (behind Erik Karlsson) in average ice time with 23:20 per game.