The Ottawa Senators announced on Friday that they signed Justin Falk to a one-year, two-way contract. Falk has played in nine NHL seasons, most recently with the Buffalo Sabres. Throughout those years, he has totaled 33 points and 208 penalty minutes in 269 games. This signing comes about a month and a half after the Senators traded Chris Wideman to the Edmonton Oilers for a sixth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Justin Falk Signs with Ottawa Senators
Falk was drafted in the fourth round of the 2007 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild. He went on to play 121 games with the Wild before being dealt to the New York Rangers. In exchange the Wild received Benn Ferriero and a 2015 fifth-round pick that was later dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Ferriero went on to play three seasons in the AHL before retiring.
Falk was previously playing with the Colorado Eagles of the AHL. He had one goal and one assist in eight games for the Eagles. He participated in training camp with the Calgary Flames before signing a professional tryout contract with the Colorado Avalanche‘s minor league affiliate.
The Ottawa #Senators have signed UFA d-man Justin Falk to a 1 year/2-way deal for the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
NHL: $650,000
Minor: $185,000Falk had been playing with the Colorado Eagles in the AHL. https://t.co/Snkz2PkhWK
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) November 30, 2018
Falk is being brought in as an emergency sixth-man. The Senators assistant captain, Mark Borowiecki, will be a game-time decision for Saturday’s game against the San Jose Sharks. He was placed on injured-reserve on Tuesday. Prior to that, he had two points in 17 games.
Maxime Lajoie also got hurt during Thursday’s game against the Rangers. Lajoie has 12 points in 26 games to start off his rookie season.
If Borowiecki and Lajoie can’t play, Falk will be the one to fill the empty spot in the Senators defense. It’s then expected that the 30-year-old will be sent to the AHL; hinted at by his two-way deal and his waiver exemption.
Neither Lajoie or Borowiecki practiced with the Senators on Friday. Both are out with unspecified injuries.
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