OTTAWA - One of the top young scorers in the NHL is
staying put.
A restricted free agent, Martin Havlat signed a one-year
contract Wednesday with the Ottawa Senators, who drafted the
24-year-old 26th overall in 2001.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but Havlat made $1.5 million
in 2003-04.
Havlat, who scored 19 goals in his rookie season of 2000-01, has
improved his totals each season, culminating with a career-high
31 in 2003-04. A native of the Czech Republic, Havlat also
posted a career best of 37 assists that season and led the
Senators with seven game-winning tallies.
During the NHL lockout last season, Havlat played for teams in
both Russia and the Czech Republic. He scored two goals in 10
games with Dynamo Moscow and added a combined 15 tallies and
eight assists in 21 contests with HC Znojemsti Orli Znojmo and
HC Sparta Praha.
Havlat has 96 goals and 123 assists in 280 NHL games.
The Senators also re-signed center Mike Fisher to a three-year
contract Wednesday.
Fisher, who made $962,500 in 2003-04, was a second-round pick in
1998. The 25-year-old was limited to 24 games in his last
season with the Senators due to a right elbow injury that
required surgery but was nominated for the Bill Masterton
Memorial Trophy, given annually to the player who best
exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and
dedication to hockey.
In 2002-03, Fisher posted career highs of 18 goals and 20
assists in 74 games. He has 48 tallies and 52 assists in 248
career contests.
Last season, Fisher recorded nine goals and 18 assists in 21
games with EV Zug of the Swiss National League.