The Ottawa Senators have landed college free agent forward Stephane Da Costa, signing him to a two-year entry-level contract on Thursday.
The highly touted 21-year-old forward was reportedly scouted by as many as 20 teams at some point this season; Boston, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Vancouver and Toronto among the long list of suitors.
This 5'11, 180 lb, native of Paris, France led the NCAA's Merrimack Warriors in scoring over the past two years, posting back-to-back 45 point seasons. In doing so, he helped lead Merrimack to Division I NCAA school records in wins, points, home wins and road wins.
He was named the Division 1 Rookie of the year in his freshman season and the following year, he helped lead the team to it's first-ever Hockey East Championship with a 25-10-4 record.
Over a two-season collegiate career, Da Costa recorded 30 goals, 60 assists and 83 penalty minutes in 67 games with Merrimack College.
Prior to enrolling at Merrimack, Da Costa played two seasons with the United States Hockey League's Sioux City Musketeers from 2007-08 through 2008-09, where he recorded 43 goals, 61 assists and 45 penalty minutes in 99 games.