Nick Holden staying with Senators on one-year, $1.3 million deal

The seventh-place Ottawa Senators are having a rough winter. On Thursday the club confirmed that star forward Drake Batherson will miss at least "a couple months" due to the high ankle sprain he suffered due to the suspension-worthy hit delivered by Buffalo Sabres goaltender Aaron Dell in Tuesday's game.

However, Ottawa announced some good news before Thursday's home matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Per Callum Fraser of the NHL's website, defenseman Nick Holden won't be testing free agency later this year and instead will stay with the Senators via a one-year, $1.3 million contract. Holden originally joined the club through a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights last July, and the 34-year-old has tallied one goal and three assists across his first 30 games with Ottawa. 

"Right from the get-go I've felt very welcomed," Holden said of his time with the Senators, according to Matt Tidcombe of the team's website. "Personally, with my game, I've felt as though I fit in really well. You've got to make sure you're secure. Me and my family have really enjoyed being here, playing here, living here, so it was an easy decision." 

There was speculation Holden could be shopped before the trade deadline set for March 21, especially with the Senators losing their leading scorer in Batherson perhaps for the remainder of the campaign. 

"He's great for our young guys," head coach D.J. Smith added about Holden. "He's never down. He's the perfect guy to have around for Brady (Tkachuk) and those guys in the leadership group but also young guys coming in. He's played the game for so long, played in all situations, playoff games, high-intensity games, great teams, bad teams, he's done everything in the league from developing kids on and he's just a real good calming presence." 

The Senators have won two straight and have games in hand over every division foe, so don't be surprised if Holden and company make things difficult for numerous opponents over the next several months.