Ottawa Senators sign blueliner Tyler Kleven to a two-year extension

Tyler Kleven of the Senators skates the puck past William Nylander of the Maple Leafs during the second period of Game 5 in Toronto on April 29, 2025. Photo by Claus Andersen /Getty ImagesArticle content

The Ottawa Senators took care of some business Monday morning.

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The Senators signed defenceman Tyler Kleven to a two-year contract extension that will pay him $1.6 million US per season through the 2026-27 campaign and has a total value of $3.2 million.

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Scheduled to become a restricted free agent on July 1, Kleven, 23, is coming off his first full season in the National Hockey League and emerged to play a solid role in the playoffs in the club’s first-round series.

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“The whole process was really quick, and that was kind of how I hoped it would be,” Kleven told Postmedia from his home in Grand Forks, N.D., on Monday afternoon. “I didn’t want to have to go the whole summer without knowing my job for next year.

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“I’m happy with how it all turned out.”

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Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, opted for a bridge deal with Kleven, which is the right move given his limited sample size in the NHL.

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“Tyler continued to elevate his game in his first NHL season, which was a good sign,” Staios said. “We expect his game will continue to develop.”

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That’s right and there was no need to overpay Kleven by trying to lock him to a long-term extension. Instead, both sides can see where they stand two years from now.

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This is the same approach Staios took with centre Shane Pinto last summer when he was signed to a two-year bridge deal worth $3.75 million through next season. It allows both sides to see what the future holds and where they may want to settle in the next contract.

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Kleven was selected No. 44 overall by the Senators in the 2020 NHL draft from the University of North Dakota. He played a tough, physical brand of hockey, especially in the playoffs when that element is needed.

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A native of Fargo, N.D., Kleven has suited up for 96 games in his NHL career. He spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with the club’s American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville and learned how to play the pro game.

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At 6-foot-4, he did a good job in the club’s third pairing with an average of 14 minutes and 28 seconds per game. He also picked up the offensive part of his game with four goals and six assists for 10 points in the 79 games he suited up with the Senators.

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“I thought as the year went on, I grew and got more confident,” Kleven said. “It takes time in my position to learn when to fire the puck and get the touches. I felt towards the end of the season that I was playing better hockey.”