Jared Cowen Signs 4 year, $12.4M Deal With Senators

The last remaining piece of the Ottawa Senators puzzle is in place, as Jared Cowen signs a contract with the Ottawa Senators that is essentially a split between the 2 years Cowen was looking for and the initial 8 year offer from the Senators.

Jan 19, 2012; San Jose, CA, USA; Ottawa Senators defenseman Jared Cowen (2) before a face off against the San Jose Sharks during the second period at HP Pavilion. Ottawa defeated San Jose 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports

The deal was important for both sides to get done, and is fair for both sides.  I seem to be in the minority that thinks a healthy Cowen is worth $3M now, based on his full season with the Senators.  I think people forget how much impact he had on the game in limited minutes, but now that he will likely anchor the second pair, it will become more evident. That is why I didn’t blame him one bit for turning down the 8 year, $28M offer, because that would be leaving millions on the table.  Now he will have a chance to prove himself over the next 4 years and hit a home run with his next deal.

And health can’t be too much of a concern to the Senators, or they wouldn’t have been willing to go to 8 years.

Its a win-win deal, and greatly increases the depth of the blueline, because without him in the lineup the Senators looked pretty thin.

Cowen’s lengthy impasse means he will not be in the lineup when the Senators face the Flames in Cowen’s hometown of Saskatoon on Monday, as the traveling roster has already been published and with no practice time he wouldn’t be ready anyway.