The actual signing seemed inevitable at some point. Pierre Dorion had vowed that Ceci would be playing for the Senators by the time the regular season started.
This eliminated any possibility of Ceci being traded, which is always a real possibility in similar contractual disputes like this.
I had mentally prepared to have this dispute last well into September at least, and I’m pleasantly surprised that it got completed so suddenly.
As recently as a week ago, the two sides didn’t appear close at all. What changed to accelerate a deal being finalized?