OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators ( @Senators ) announced today that the club has signed defenceman Maxime Lajoie to a three-year entry-level contract.

Lajoie, 18, was the Senators' fifth-round pick (133rd overall) at June's NHL Draft in Buffalo. He established new major junior career highs with eight goals and 28 penalty minutes for the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League in 2015-16. Lajoie recently participated in his first Senators training camp, after previously attending the team's rookie camp in London, Ont.

Lajoie led all Broncos defencemen in scoring last season with 37 points (eight goals, 29 assists). Lajoie has recorded 77 points (15 goals, 62 assists) and 54 penalty minutes in 138 games over parts of four seasons with Swift Current, including the last two as an alternate captain.

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