The Ottawa Senators added to their list of young cornerstones on long-term deals Wednesday by signing defenseman Jake Sanderson to an eight-year contract worth $8.05 million annually.

Sanderson, who was named to the NHL All-Rookie team in June, was entering the final year of his entry-level contract. The 21-year-old, who was the fifth pick of the 2020 NHL draft, left the University of North Dakota after his sophomore season and became one of the Senators' more consistent players in his rookie campaign this past season.