The Ottawa Senators have taken care of an important piece of off-season business.

The Senators signed restricted free agent winger Fabian Zetterlund to a three-year contract extension on Thursday morning that will pay him $4.275 million per season through the 2027-28 campaign.

This is a significant piece of business for Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, to complete because Zetterlund had the right to file for arbitration and would likely have won a substantial award.

“We were pleased to acquire Fabian at the deadline last season and very happy to extend him for three more years,” Staios said. “He brings commitment and work ethic with a scoring touch to our group.”

This leaves the club with approximately $10 million in cap space. It would be no surprise if the Senators now get down to brass tacks with veteran winger Claude Giroux.

The two sides have held talks every second day, and there is a desire by both parties to get a one-year extension in place, but you have to think the Senators now have a good idea of what they can afford to pay Giroux with Zetterlund locked up for three more seasons.

Sources say talks with Giroux’s agent Pat Brisson have been ongoing every two days and the Senators remain hopeful that they’ll be able to keep the veteran from testing the UFA market.

The deal with Zetterlund doesn’t have a no-trade clause.

Acquired from the San Jose Sharks only 27 seconds before the National Hockey League’s 3 p.m. trade deadline in March, Zetterlund, 25, will have the chance to be a top-six forward next season.

The Senators brought in Zetterlund along with forward Tristen Robins from the Sharks in exchange for forwards Noah Gregor, Zach Ostapchuk and a second-round pick.

Zetterlund was coming off a deal that paid him $1.45 million last season, but would have had no issue winning in arbitration. The decisions made by an independent arbitrator are based solely on numbers and his agent, Claude Lemieux, would have had a strong case.

He finished with 19 goals and 41 points in 84 games with the Sharks and Senators. Zetterlund had only two goals and five points, but was mostly used in a fourth-line role. He possesses strong skills and speed, which means his role is likely to expand under head coach Travis Green next season.

In 247 NHL games in his career, Zetterlund has posted 52 goals and 64 assists for 116 points. He’s a physical player who can win the battles on the wall. The Senators want to be a physical team and that’s paramount after we saw the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup.

At Zettetlund’s age, he should be heading into the best years of his career and ready to make the jump to get more ice time. He played a key role with the Sharks before being dealt to Ottawa and was someone that Staios heavily pursued before completing the trade.

Zetterlund created a lot of scoring opportunities and should have had more goals than he finished with during the season. He will likely play on the right side of Tim Stutzle and captain Brady Tkachuk while David Perron, Dylan Cozens and Drake Batherson make up the second line.

The deal gives Staios and the Senators some salary certainty with free agency set to open on July 1. This does affect the 37-year-old Giroux because it means his role as a top-six forward with Ottawa will change if he does return next season.

There will still be situations where Giroux will get ice time in the top six, and he’ll continue to take important faceoffs, but he could be used mostly in a fourth-line role. You can envision a scenario where Ridly Greig, Shane Pinto, and Michael Amadio form the club’s third line.

The Senators continue talks with centre Adam Gaudette but there is a good chance he will test the market on July 1. Owner Michael Andlauer has stated he won’t spend to the salary cap and Gaudette scored 19 goals last season, which should earn him a healthy raise and some term.

Gaudette would like to return but he has an opportunity here to get some security and is coming off the best year of his career. He was used mainly in a fourth-line role, but did see power-play time. Gaudette finished with 26 points in 81 games, and had a solid playoff.

The club is also trying to sign unrestricted forwards Nick Cousins and Matthew Highmore. It’s expected that goaltender Anton Forsberg will test the market and Leevi Merilainen will be the club’s backup next season.

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