The Ottawa Senators made some major moves on Thursday, announcing the signing of winger Bobby Ryan to a seven-year, $50.75 million contract extension and naming defenceman Erik Karlsson their new captain.

Pay Breakdown
Ryan's contract is worth an annual average value of $7.25 million. The contract is broken down to $6.5M in the first year, $7M in the second, $7.25M in the third and $7.5M in each of the final four years.

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Ryan's deal includes a full no-movement clause and a partial no-trade clause, where he has to submit a list of 10 teams if requested.

Ryan said the decision to make a long term commitment to the Senators was a "no brainer" as he and his fiancee believe Ottawa is a place "where we could build a family, start a family, call home and everything that we've experienced here in the last year has hinted at none other than that."

"We're very, very happy that we were able to get it done," added Ryan. "I promise you we'll give it everything we have night in and night out to uphold our end of the contract."

Ryan scored 23 goals and added 25 assists in 70 games with the Senators last season, his first with the club. 

The 27-year-old was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in July of 2013 in exchange for Jakob Silfverberg, Stefan Noesen and a 2014 first-round pick, which the Ducks used to select forward Nick Ritchie, 10th overall.

Ryan has one year remaining on his current contract worth $5.1 million.

 

Most Goals by US-Born Players -- 2008-09-Present

Player Games Played Goals
 Phil Kessel  434  192
 Bobby Ryan  425  165
 Zach Parise  373  164
 Joe Pavelski  433  158
 Patrick Kane  433  157

Goals By RW -- 2008-09 to Present

Player Games Played Goals
 Alex Ovechkin  434  259
 Corey Perry  447  204
 Phil Kessel  434  192
 Jarome Iginla  450  186
 Marian Hossa  389  165
 Bobby Ryan  425  165

Ottawa's 20G Men in 2013-14

Player Games Played Goals
 Kyle Turris  82  26
 Clarke MacArthur  79  24
 Bobby Ryan  70  23
 Jason Spezza  75  23
 Erik Karlsson  82  20

Karlsson replaces Jason Spezza, who was traded to the Dallas Stars this past summer after holding the captaincy for one year. Chris Phillips and Chris Neil remain alternate captains.

The 24-year-old Karlsson thanked teammates past and present for helping him become the player he is today.

Swedish Leaders
Karlsson is the fourth active Swedish captain in the NHL, the second most of any nationality in the league. Only Canada has produced more active captains (15). Six captaincies remain open in the NHL.

"I'm a little bit nervous actually as I don't know what to say," said Karlsson. "It's a good feeling. It's an honour to be a captain of a Canadian team and it's not something that I could have hoped for when I came here, but I embrace it and I'm very much looking forward to the responsibilities to come. I am right now a very happy guy and I look forward to the upcoming season."

Senators general manager Bryan Murray said the decision to make Karlsson captain made sense as they always knew they wanted him to take on a leadership role.

"We knew in the very near future he was going to be (captain) and we finally just decided that if he's going to be it why not be it now," Murray said. "I think his growth off the ice, his attitude, the conversations we've had since last year and the fact he's back to full health and really wanting to be a focal point of this hockey team - all those reasons. The most important one obviously was we just felt he was the right guy because he had that personality to step up and take charge and be forceful, but considerate of his teammates."

Karlsson, who was drafted 15th overall by the Senators in the 2008 NHL Draft, made his Senators debut in the 2009-10 season, scoring five goals and 26 points in 60 games as a rookie.

He is coming off his first career 20-goal season, with 20 goals and 74 points with the Senators.

In 315 NHL games with the Senators, Karlsson has scored 63 goals and 237 points.

History of Senators captains
Laurie Boschman -- 1992-93
Mark Lamb, Brad Shaw, Gord Dineen -- 1993-94
Randy Cunneyworth -- 1994-98
Alexei Yashin -- 1998-99
Daniel Alfredsson -- 1999-2013
Jason Spezza -- 2013-14
Erik Karlsson -- 2014-present