The Ottawa Senators avoided arbitration with center Antoine Vermette on Thursday, signing him to a two-year contract.
Vermette, 26, recorded career highs in both goals (24) and assists (29) while recording 51 penalty minutes in 81 games with the team last season.
The native of St-Agapit, Que., has accumulated 71 goals, 68 assists and 163 penalty minutes in 297 career regular-season games.
Vermette was Ottawa's second second-round pick (55th overall) in the 2000 NHL entry draft.