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Sens prospect White signs ATO, contract talks moving in ‘positive direction’

Colin White

Colin White, center, poses with Ottawa Senators executives after being chosen 21st overall by the Senators, during the first round of the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 26, 2015, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

AP

It hasn’t moved along as quickly as Clayton Keller-to-Arizona or Brock Boeser-to-Vancouver, but the Colin White-to-Ottawa transaction is slowly churning along.

Last night, White -- the Senators’ first-round pick (21st overall) at the ’15 draft -- sign an amateur tryout offer with the club’s AHL affiliate in Binghamton, while his agent continues to work with Sens GM Pierre Dorion on an entry-level deal.

“We are excited to see Colin make the next step in his development in turning professional after a great college career,” Dorion said in a release. “We have spoken to Colin and his advisors at length and we are all in agreement that getting him on the ice to play games in the AHL is what is best for his growth at this moment.

“While our ongoing contract discussions are moving in a positive direction, we all know there is a small window left this season for Colin to gain professional experience.”

White, a Boston College sophomore, saw his college season end more than a week ago with a loss to UMass-Lowell on Mar. 18.

Unlike Boeser, who made his NHL debut on Saturday, or Keller -- who projects to make his tonight -- White’s played the waiting game, and now appears primed to travel a similar road as U.S. world junior teammate Luke Kunin, who last week left the University of Wisconsin to join the Wild organization.

Like White, Kunin signed an ATO and headed directly to the American League. Unlike White, Kunin also inked his ELC at the exact same time (it will kick in next year).

White, 20, has had a terrific last couple of years. He’s been a point-per-game player at BC and was a major catalyst at the world juniors. He finished second in the tournament in goals, with seven in seven games, and was a force in the U.S.'s gold medal win over Canada.

There was some thought White, like Boeser and Keller, could play in the NHL this year. But the Sens don’t have extra minutes at forward after picking up the likes of Alex Burrows, Viktor Stalberg and Chris DiDomenico at the deadline.

That said, Stalberg is currently sidelined with an injury.