Both players are in their final year of two-way contracts. Sexton's deal pays $725,000 at the NHL level; Erkamps earns $655,000 at the NHL level. Sexton will be an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the season and Erkamps a restricted free agent.
Sexton, a 27-year-old Ottawa native, made his NHL debut last year with his hometown Senators, going scoreless in two appearances. This year, the 5-foot-11, 196-pound Sexton has nine assists in 17 games with Belleville at the AHL level. He was in his second season as an alternate captain for Belleville. Sexton was also an alternate captain for the AHL's Providence Bruins in 2015-16.
The son of former Penguins' director of amateur scouting Randy Sexton, Ben Sexton played four years collegiately at Clarkson from 2010-14, serving as the school's captain his final two years. The Boston Bruins originally drafted Sexton in the seventh round (205th overall) in the 2009 NHL Draft.
Erkamps, 23, had been playing for the Brampton Beast of the ECHL this year, where he had six points (1G-5A) in 21 contests. A 6-foot, 196-pound native of Delta, British Columbia, Erkamps played the majority of last season in Belleville, recording four points (1G-3A) in 46 games.
Erkamps, who was undrafted, split his five-year junior career between the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Brandon Wheat Kings between 2011-16. As Brandon's captain in 2015-16, he not only led all WHL blueliners with 58 regular-season assists, but he also helped his squad capture the WHL playoff title and a berth in the Memorial Cup tournament.
