Drake Batherson has been extension-eligible since July 1, though recent reports have suggested that he and the Ottawa Senators are quite far apart in contract talks.
There’s still plenty of time to get a deal done, though it’s far from ideal to have one of your leading offensive producers entering a UFA season unsigned. Part of that is due to the increasing likelihood that other teams get the chance to go after Batherson, and according to insider Marco D’Amico, one of those that would love to get its hands on the star winger and pay him big money is the Montreal Canadiens.
“What’s going to happen with Drake Batherson in Ottawa? He wants 10 to 11 million. Well, if Ottawa doesn’t want to give it to him, I could tell you the Montreal Canadiens probably will, right? Like, that’s a player that I could see making sense. Like, that’s the vision I have is that if, you know, the salary cap is going up like that, it’s a no-brainer for me if you’re the Ottawa Senators… So yeah, 10.5-11 million over 8 years, sign it now before it’s over. That’s gonna be a bargain in 2028. And if Ottawa’s not gonna do it, I could tell you that there are many teams across the NHL that are willing to give him that,”
The 28-year-old Batherson is entering the sixth and final year of the six-year, $29.85 million contract extension he signed to stay in Ottawa back in 2021. He put up a career-high 71 points (33 goals, 38 assists) in 79 games last season.
It’s not time to panic just yet in Ottawa, but hearing this kind of report should add a little more urgency to negotiations between Batherson and the Senators.
If not, then this situation could get dicey, and having just lost captain and fellow key offensive cog Brady Tkachuk, the last thing GM Steve Staios wants is to see Batherson walk out the door soon after.
