Senators agree to terms with defenceman Cody Ceci on a two-year contract

Ottawa Senators Cody Ceci (centre) celebrates his first NHL goal with teammates Chris Phillips (4) and Milan Michalek(9) in overtime NHL action to beat St Louis Blues 3-2, in Ottawa Monday, Dec. 16, 2013. Fred Chartrand/THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA -- The Ottawa Senators have signed defenceman Cody Ceci to a two-year contract with an annual value of US$2.8 million.

The contract runs through the end of the 2017-18. Ceci will get $2.25 million in the first year and $3.35 million in the second year.

The 22-year-old Ceci established new career highs in goals (10), points (26) and penalty minutes (18) while matching his career high for assists (16) over 75 games with the Senators during the 2015-16 season.

He also had a goal and five assists en route to helping Canada win the world hockey championship in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Ceci, an Ottawa native, has 56 points (18 goals, 38 assists) and 38 penalty minutes over 205 NHL games with his hometown club. He also has two assists over six NHL playoff games.

The Senators' first-round pick (15th overall) in the 2012 draft, Ceci spent three-plus seasons with the Ontario Hockey League's Ottawa 67's, before completing his major junior career with the Owen Sound Attack.

He began his professional career with the Binghamton Senators in 2013-14 before being recalled to the NHL for the first time on Dec. 12, 2013.