Stone expects contract discussions to begin over next 2 weeks

Ottawa Senators right winger and pending unrestricted free agent Mark Stone expects contract discussions with the club to begin in the next two weeks, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.

Jan. 1 marks the first day Stone's eligible to negotiate an extension with the Senators after he signed a one-year, $7.35-million contract with the club in August, narrowly avoiding arbitration. The 26-year-old said he wants to remain with the club, a stance he affirmed multiple times over the past year.

Stone is the team's leading scorer, managing 18 goals and 43 points in 40 games this season along with a 14.6 relative Corsi For percentage and over 20 minutes logged per night.

Ottawa is projected to have $35.3 million in cap space for next season, according to Cap Friendly. The team's other expiring contracts include unrestricted free agents Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel, and restricted free agents Colin White and Cody Ceci.

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