OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators signed forward Nick Paul to a three-year entry-level contract Saturday.

Paul, 19, of Mississauga, Ont., is in his third season with the OHL's North Bay Battalion. He heads the team in goals (19) and points (34) with 28 penalty minutes in 27 games.

Paul went to Ottawa in the deal that sent Jason Spezza to the Dallas Stars on July 1.

The six-foot-three, 221-pound Paul will play for Canada in this year's world junior hockey championship, which will be held in Toronto and Montreal.