OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators announced today that the club has signed defenceman Fredrik Claesson to a three-year entry-level contract. Claesson recently completed his second full season with Djurgardens of the Swedish Elite League (SEL), for whom he established professional career highs in 2011-12 in assists (six), points (seven) and games played (47).

A native of Stockholm, Claesson appeared in each of Team Sweden’s six tournament games at the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championship in Alberta, helping his country win the gold medal for the first time since 1981.

Claesson, 19, was the Senators’ fifth-round pick (126th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. In 82 career SEL contests (all with Djurgardens), he has registered nine points (three goals, six assists) while amassing 14 penalty minutes.

In addition to playing for Sweden at the 2012 World Junior Championship, Claesson also represented the Tre Kronor at the men’s Under-18 World Championship in 2010 in Minsk, Belarus, winning a silver medal.

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