Senators Sign Free Agent Macoy Erkamps

The Ottawa Senators have signed un-drafted free agent Macoy Erkamps from the WHLs’ Brandon Wheat Kings, the team announced Friday. Erkamps has been inked to a three-year, entry-level contract. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are happy to have Macoy join the Senators organization,” said General Manager Bryan Murray. “He is a player we’ve had an eye on over the course of his junior career and we’ve watched him develop into one of the WHL’s top defensemen this season. He’s a talented, competitive guy whose game took a big jump this season.”

Erkamps served as Brandon’s captain for the 2015-16 season and ranked first among all WHL defensemen with 58 assists in his overage season. His 71 points in 72 games ranked second among league defenders, behind only teammate Ivan Provorov. The 21-year-old defender had an unexpected offensive explosion this season, playing in a prominent position for one of the WHL’s best teams.

In his fifth year of WHL play — just his second with Brandon after spending his first three seasons with the then-struggling Lethbridge Hurricanes — he over doubled his career-best mark of 35 points. In each of his last two seasons he posted just 31.

The offensive touch this season will get him a shot within the Senators organization. His contract will start in the 2016-17 season.