GARRIOCH: Senators bring more depth by adding forward Tyler Motte to the mix

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The Ottawa Senators added depth on Wednesday.

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With training camp set to begin next week at the Canadian Tire Centre, the Senators have signed forward Tyler Motte to a one-year, $1.35 million deal this season.

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Motte, 27, spent most of last season with the Vancouver Canucks. He was traded to the New York Rangers at the trade deadline and helped the club advance to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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He finished with seven goals and 15 points in 58 NHL games last season and can help shorthanded Ottawa. The players will report for medicals next Wednesday at the rink and have their first on-ice session on Thursday.

“Tyler is a tenacious controller who plays the game with pace,” Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said. « He’s a great penalty killer and another competitive person who adds to the depth of our squad. »

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It will be up to coach DJ Smith and his team to decide where Motte fits in, but he has mostly played on the left wing on the third or fourth line throughout his career. His signing doesn’t complete the club’s roster for training camp, but it’s another step in that direction.

The belief is that the Senators signed him up for a fourth-line role. He’ll be pushing 23-year-old winger Parker Kelly for playing time and competition isn’t the worst thing to have among the bottom six forwards.

The Senators have yet to sign restricted free agent winger Alex Formenton. He’s the only RFA who doesn’t have a contract and Dorion told reporters at an event last week at the rink that talks are continuing with Formenton’s Toronto agent Wade Arnott.

Later …

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

Twitter: @sungarrioch