The Ottawa Senators got a head start on their 2025 free agency. Defenseman Tyler Kleven entered this Summer as a restricted free agent. Today, the 23-year-old North Dakota native isn't going anywhere.
Kleven signed a two-year contract extension at an AAV of $1.6 million. Kleven's contract will expire at the end of the 2024-25 season.
With how Kleven played in the 2024-25 regular season and the 2025 playoffs, this contract extension was deserved and was bound to happen.
Kleven's contract is a win on both sides
"Tyler continued to elevate his game in his first NHL season, which was good," said Senators general manager Steve Staios. "We expect his game will continue to develop."
After playing in 17 combined games in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 season, the 2024-25 season was Kleven's first full season in Ottawa. The former 44th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft got full-time play and took advantage under head coach Travis Green.
Kleven finished the 2024-25 season with 10 points in 79 games, but made his presence known defensively. Kleven finished with 105 hits and 97 blocked shots. Kleven recorded two assists while averaging under 16 minutes of ice time during the 2025 playoffs and delivered some big hits as well.
A two-year extension works on both sides with Kleven being young and the Senators not overpaying big. The two-year extension will allow Kleven to develop more and gain more confidence.
Kleven is looked at as a core piece on the Senators roster with being young and having potential, and it was important for the Senators to have the young defenseman on board for years to come.
Now, the Senators have that with Kleven signed for two more years. One free agent in Ottawa is taken care of, and now more work will be done with Staios and the Senators.