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The Ottawa Senators are set at centre for next season.
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The Senators signed Stephen Halliday to a two-year contract extension worth $1.075 million US on Tuesday, which means he’s likely tabbed to be the club’s fourth-line centre next season.
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The 23-year-old Halliday, who was selected No. 104 overall in the 2022 National Hockey League draft, suited up for 30 games with the Senators last season. He finished with four goals and 11 points in that stretch.
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Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, was pleased to get this piece of business done. Halliday proved during the regular season that he could play at this level.
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“Stephen has shown great growth in his game. He is committed to his craft and has a passion for the game,” Staios said. “We’re pleased to have him signed and excited about what the future brings.”
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The club has good depth in the middle of the ice with Tim Stutzle, Dylan Cozens and Shane Pinto, so Halliday will head into training camp in September as the No. 4 centre.
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Halliday told Postmedia on Tuesday that the Senators reached out to his agent in January to begin discussions and he was pleased that they were able to get it across the finish line.
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This will allow Halliday to focus on his off-season training.
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“I was excited they were able to get it done so quickly in the summer,” Halliday said. “It gives me even more motivation heading into next year to prove that they made a great deal with me.
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“I was really thankful they gave me a chance this year, and they’re going to give me a chance going forward.”
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What are Halliday’s strengths?
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Halliday made his NHL debut on Nov. 10 against the Anaheim Ducks and had an assist. He scored his first career goal on Jan. 22 against the Nashville Predators.
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But Halliday isn’t here to provide offence. His job is to be responsible at both ends of the ice. He has shown great strengths in that area, but it is something he will need to continue developing over the summer.
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It was a little surprising that Halliday didn’t play much in the final six weeks of the season. He suited up for his last game on March 3 and then didn’t play again until the club had a playoff spot locked up on April 12.
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He also didn’t see any time in the club’s four-game sweep at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round.
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Some wondered if he should have been sent back to Belleville to continue playing, but the Senators didn’t want to risk injury and wanted to have him available in case somebody up front got hurt.
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Halliday is a smart player with good upside.
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A native of Ajax, Halliday spent three seasons with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL between 2019 and 2022, before suiting up for two years with the Ohio State Buckeyes in the NCAA.
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