any Heatley has agreed to a six-year contract extension with the Ottawa Senators, averaging $7.5 million per year with a no movement clause.

The contract will pay Heatley $5 million in signing bonus money next July 1 and $5 million in salary for $10 million in total next season, $4 million in signing bonus money on July 1, 2009 and $4 million in salary for $8 million total in Year 2, $8 million in Year 3, $8 million in the fourth year, $6 million in Year 5 and $5 million in Year 6.

The $9 million in signing bonus payable on consecutive July 1's means $14 million is payable within one year of the deal on a July 1 to July 1 basis.

''We were able to work on a structure throughout the day and were able to find a structure that works for both,'' said Heatley's agent J.P Barry.

''Dany is very excited. He's had nothing but success in Ottawa and he's thrilled to be on board long term with one of the best teams in hockey,'' Barry added.



The on again - off again negotiation resumed this afternoon with the Senators tabling an offer that the two sides used as the base to avoid tonight's season opening deadline.

The Heatley camp made it clear if a deal wasn't reached before the start of the season, further contract talks wouldn't resume until the end of the year.

''This is a great agreement for Senators fans, Dany, the organization and NHL hockey in Ottawa for years to come,'' Senators owner Eugene Melnyk said. ''Under the challenges of our current collective bargaining system, this agreement goes to show the quality of Bryan Murray and his management team to be able to put this agreement together to ensure long-term championship-level hockey in the nation's capital.''

General manager Bryan Murray echoed the same sentiment.

''We are all very happy and excited to get this deal done with an elite player in Dany Heatley who will be successful for quite a number of years,'' Murray said. ''It goes to show the commitment of ownership of having a first-class team in Ottawa for many years to come.''

Heatley was acquired in a blockbuster deal in August 2005 that saw winger Marian Hossa go the other way. He has scored 50 goals and had more than 100 points in the two seasons he's played for the Sens.