Sens Land Da Costa

Senators Sign Highly Touted, Stephane Da Costa

Taken From: ESPN

"OTTAWA -- The Ottawa Senators have landed highly coveted NCAA prospect Stephane Da Costa. The free-agent forward signed a two-year, entry-level contract with Ottawa Thursday. A number of NHL teams expressed interest in Da Costa, who had 30 goals and 90 points in 67 games in two seasons with Merrimack College. Da Costa is a native of Paris, and he's the first Frenchman to sign with the Senators. The 21-year-old represented his country at last year's world championships."

PattyB Thoughts:
This is big time news for the Ottawa Senators as Da Costa was by far the most sought after College Free Agent this season and probably more than any for the past few seasons. The reason I say that is because if you compare previous big fish NCAA Free Agents Tyler Bozak (41GP 18G 16A 34P at age 21) and Bobby Butler (38GP 9G 21A 30P at age 21) to Da Costa (33GP 14G 31A 45P at age 21), his stats are dramatically better. Bob McKenzie, who broke the news, reported a little over a week ago that around 20 NHL teams had approached him about signing a deal. After his team (Merrimack) was eliminated from the NCAA Championships, Da Costa was free to sign where ever he pleased. As we found out this afternoon, the team he wanted to go join was the Ottawa Senators. His ELC is a 2-year deal which due to his age is the standard contract. But for the Paris born Da Costa, he won't be eased into his professional transition as its been reported he will be playing for the Senators Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who most likely were big time suitors for him as well. 

STATS:

Regular Season						Playoffs
Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2006-07	Texas Tornado	NAHL	50	23	17	40	31
2007-08	Sioux City Musketeers	USHL	51	12	25	37	22	0	4	1	2	3	8
2008-09	Sioux City Musketeers	USHL	48	31	36	67	23	-3	--	--	--	--	--
2009-10	Merrimack College	H-East	34	16	29	45	41
2010-11	Merrimack College	H-East	33	14	31	45	42	0