The Ottawa Senators rewarded Jake Sanderson after an excellent rookie season, locking up the 21-year-old to a gargantuan eight-year, $64.4 million deal — and the American spoke out about his new contract on Thursday.

“You see the core group of the guys signing here long term, so I wanted to be a part of that,” Sanderson told NHL.com.

“You see the chemistry in the locker room, it's something that will be here for a while. We're going to win in the next couple of years. We know that and I want to be here for it. It fires me up. I have nothing but the upmost respect for [Senators general manager] Pierre Dorion and all the coaching staff. They've treated me great since they drafted me. That's all I can ask for.”

The pact carries an average annual value of $8.05 million, which is almost unheard of for a defenseman entering his second NHL season. But it's clear that Sanderson has proved to the team that he is a key piece of the future.

“Jake's transition to the pro game has been flawless; he's a very mature young man who demonstrates a routine and skillful ability to play important minutes with poise,” Dorion said at the time of the signing, per NHL.com.

“An effortless skater who holds himself to a high standard, he has the talent to be one of the best all-around defensemen in the NHL for years to come. We're very pleased to have another significant member of our core group of players under long-term contract.”

Sanderson was selected No. 5 overall by the Senators in the 2020 NHL Draft. He scored a respectable 32 points in 77 games in his rookie season, and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.

But the American was excellent in his own end, and he could be a key breakout candidate for fantasy hockey managers if he gets some powerplay time next year.

Along with Jake Sanderson, the Senators have also locked up superstars Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk, as well as fellow blueliner Thomas Chabot through at least 2027-28.

Ottawa will be looking to get back to the dance for the first time since 2017, when they lost in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final to the Pittsburgh Penguins.