The saga is over.
Merrimack sophomore forward Stephane Da Costa has signed with the Ottawa Senators. His contract is a two-year entry-level deal, likely to be laden with the same incentives that the contracts Tyler Seguin and Taylor Hall signed last off-season, making it worth up to 3.95 million dollars annually.
The all-Hockey East talent is slated to play in the NHL beginning on Saturday when the Sens face the Toronto Maple Leafs. Playing in the NHL at all this season will knock one year off of his contract, so he'll be under contract next season and will then be a restricted free agent.
Da Costa, who scored 90 points in 67 games as a Warrior, was one of the biggest forces behind the success of Merrimack over the past two seasons, a span which saw them make the NCAA Tournament for the first time as an affiliated school, earn their first-ever national ranking (as high as 4th in February), host two Hockey East quarterfinals and make it to their first-ever conference championship game.
He will be a big part of a rebuilding Ottawa squad that includes familiar face Bobby Butler, who graduated from UNH in 2010.
Merrimack fans will get one more chance to see Da Costa in Boston before the summer arrives, as Ottawa comes to face the Boston Bruins next Saturday, April 9th in a 1 PM matinee showdown.
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