Claude Giroux is staying home.

The Ottawa Senators alternate captain signed on the dotted line Sunday by agreeing to a one-year contract extension that will pay him $2 million U.S. with the opportunity to earn up to $2.75 million in incentives.

Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, was able to get the deal done after talks intensified with Giroux’s Los Angeles-based agent Pat Brisson on Sunday.

“Claude brings veteran leadership and a competitive edge to our group and has been a consistent presence on and off the ice,” said Staios. “We are excited to bring him back next season.”

The 37-year-old Giroux has played a key role both on and off the ice during his three seasons with the Senators, and he was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

He is taking a pay cut from the $6.5 million he made the last three seasons, but he didn’t have any desire to play anywhere other than Ottawa. The Montreal Canadiens likely would have shown interest if Giroux had hit the market, but Staios is well aware of the key role he plays.

Giroux is without question the best free-agent signing this club has had in its history.

In 245 career games with the Senators, Giroux has contributed 71 goals and 122 assists for 193 points. The only game he missed in three seasons was down the stretch this year while being rested for the playoffs.

Averaging more than 19 minutes of ice time, Giroux ranks among the best faceoff men in the league, boasting a 61.5 per cent winning percentage last season.

Giroux finished with 15 goals and 50 points in 81 games last season. He was mostly used on the club’s top two lines, but also on the club’s power-play and penalty-killing units.

Getting this piece of business done was paramount for the Senators. It took longer than anyone expected because the club prioritized getting restricted free agent defencemen Tyler Kleven and Nikolas Matinpalo signed to deals, along with RFA winger Fabian Zetterlund.

The issue the Senators were facing is the level of interest Giroux would get if he did get to the market. League executives believed the Montreal Canadiens would be among several teams that would make a pitch.

Those who know Giroux well indicated he didn’t have any intention of going anywhere else. He came back to Ottawa to help the Senators make the next step; his wife, Ryanne, is comfortable here with the couple’s three children, and there is an opportunity to help the club make another step.

Giroux had good discussions with Staios about the future during his exit meeting earlier this month. Coach Travis Green and the staff use Giroux in every situation to help the club have success.

He also plays a key role in his leadership.

Giroux has helped mould captain Brady Tkachuk and winger Tim Stutzle into becoming better players at both ends of the ice.

Senators owner Michael Andlauer participated in a face-to-face meeting with Brisson at the NHL Combine in Buffalo earlier this month because of the important role Giroux plays with this team.

Giroux can make the following bonuses:

$250,000 each for 20, 30 and 60 games played

$250,000 if Ottawa makes the playoffs and he plays 50 games

$500,000 if Ottawa wins Round 1

$250,000 if Ottawa wins Round 2

$500,000 if Ottawa wins Round 3

$500,000 if Ottawa wins the Stanley Cup

Giroux could have made $6 million on the open market but he wanted to stay in Ottawa. He has helped this team through the tough times and believes in what the club is doing.

The Club has $7.25 million in cap space.

The Montreal Canadiens would have been among several teams that made a pitch.

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

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