Senators re-sign forward Nick Cousins to two-year deal ahead of free agency

The Ottawa Senators re-signed Nick Cousins to a two-year contract worth $3.175 million US Wednesday morning, keeping the veteran forward off the free-agent market.

Cousins registered nine goals, 23 points and 92 penalty minutes in 81 games for the Senators last season, his second in the nation's capital.

His previous deal was set to expire when free agency opened at 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

A third-round draft pick by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2011, Cousins has collected 86 goals and 218 points with seven different teams across parts of 12 NHL seasons.

Senators deal captain Brady Tkachuk to Panthers for package of draft picks

The 32-year-old from Belleville, Ont., won a Stanley Cup championship with the Florida Panthers in 2024 before joining Ottawa the following season.

The Senators have had a busy off-season already, trading captain Brady Tkachuk to the Panthers and acquiring forward William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks.

The Toronto Maple Leafs traded pending restricted free agent Nick Robertson to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in 2028 on Wednesday.

Robertson was under contract on a one-year, $1.825 million US deal last season. He produced career-highs of 16 goals and 32 points in 78 games.

The transaction reunites the 24-year-old American forward with former Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, now the Penguins' president of hockey operations.

Dubas drafted Robertson to Toronto in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2019 NHL draft.