OTTAWA – The Ottawa Senators ( @Senators ) announced today that the club has signed forward Michael Blunden to a two-year, two-way contract. The contract will carry an annual value of $725,000 in the National Hockey League and $275,000 in the American Hockey League in year one, and $750,000 in the NHL and $275,000 in the AHL in year two.

A Toronto native, Blunden spent time last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning and their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. In 20 NHL games, he scored three goals, while adding two assists and 34 penalty minutes. He also played in seven playoff games for the Lightning. In 49 AHL games, he scored 21 goals and added 17 assists for 38 points.

Originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks with their second-round pick (43rd overall) in the 2005 NHL draft, Blunded has played in 124 career NHL games with Chicago, the Columbus Blue Jackets, Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay. He has scored seven goals, whild adding six assists and 141 penalty minutes.

In 461 career AHL games between the Norfolk Admirals, Rockford IceHogs, Syracuse, and the Hamilton Bulldogs he has scored 117 goals and 130 assists for 247 points, while adding 557 penalty minutes.

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