NHL teams
Pierre LeBrun, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

Senators lock up Bobby Ryan

NHL, Ottawa Senators

OTTAWA -- The Senators have signed signed star winger Bobby Ryan to a seven-year, $50.25 million extension as well as naming superstar defenseman Erik Karlsson the team's captain.

Ryan's deal is worth an average of $7.25 million per season.

After losing former captain Daniel Alfredsson to free agency two years ago and seeing star center Jason Spezza ask for a trade last summer (he was dealt to Dallas), the Senators worked this time to ensure they kept one of their top players.

Karlsson, meanwhile, replaces Spezza as team captain -- the ninth in franchise history. There had been debate within team management about whether Karlsson was ready for the captaincy.

General manager Bryan Murray had told ESPN.com a few weeks ago that he was leaning toward having only alternate captains for this season. But the Senators decided Karlsson was suited for the position.

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