The Ottawa Senators on Wednesday signed head coach D.J. Smith to a two-year extension and agreed to terms with journeyman defenseman Michael Del Zotto.
The Senators hold an option for a third year on Smith, which could keep him behind the bench through the 2024-25 season. Financial terms were not released. Smith was entering the final year of his original deal.
Smith, 44, is 48-62-17 over his first two seasons in Ottawa — his first stint as an NHL head coach.
“D.J. Smith represents an integral component of our long-term vision,” Senators owner and governor Eugene Melnyk said in a statement. “He’s a tireless worker who has done a tremendous job over the last two years in molding our core group of players into a cohesive unit.”
Del Zotto, 31, agreed to a two-year contract worth $4 million, making Ottawa his eighth team in what will be his 13th year in the league. The left-shot blueliner tallied 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 53 games last season for Columbus.
Del Zotto has 249 career points (60 goals, 189 assists) since being selected by the New York Rangers 20th overall in the 2008 draft. He spent four-plus seasons with the Rangers, his longest tenure with any team.
–Field Level Media