Thank goodness the Ottawa Senators locked up Kyle Turris for five more years, committing $17.5 million to keep him under control until 2018.

Turris exploded for 12 goals last season. Had he made it all the way to 15 goals, the Philadelphia Flyers may have begun plotting a $100 million offer.

So, sure, the Senators HAD to extend his deal. Turris was set to earn $1.4 million this season, but the extension averages $3.5 million per year.

The young man has 31 goals and 44 assists in his career. Those would be solid numbers for a scoring line center in one season, but Turris has posted those numbers in 186 NHL games.

“He’s creative. He’s very competitive,” gushed Senators general manager Bryan Murray, according to the Ottawa Sun. “The thing that Kyle appears to have greatly improved upon his strength. That in itself will make him a more productive player. He gave us a solid player that was a real compliment to Jason Spezza. We like what (Turris) delivered. He gave us a chance pretty much every night to have a real creative second line.”

Perhaps Turris, 23, will actually realize his notable potential some day. But rather than wait to find out, the Senators went ahead and paid him like an established player.

So it goes in the NHL, where the owners overpay players and then threaten to lock the out because they are overpaid.Kyle