The Ottawa Senators are at a crossroads with Drake Batherson, and the clock is working against them.
Batherson is in the final years of a six-year deal that carries a $4.975 million annual cap hit, and contract talks are ongoing. Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen reported that there is still a gap between the two sides, which leaves Ottawa with a decision that can’t drag on much longer.
The cleanest outcome would be a new contract in place before September 15th, when the team would still be able to sign him to an eight-year deal. After the new Collective Bargaining Agreement takes effect, that maximum drops to seven years.
Batherson has every reason to want to stay. Ottawa has every reason to want to keep him. But if the Senators believe he’s part of their long-term core, they need to get serious and close the gap.
That’s because Batherson has earned the right to be viewed as a major piece. Ottawa drafted him in the fourth round, 121st overall, in 2017, and he has developed into a legitimate top-line winger.
In 470 NHL games, he has 149 goals and 364 points, and he put together his best season in 2025-26 with 71 points, including 33 goals and 38 assists, in 79 games. He has also built strong chemistry with Tim Stutzle, giving the Senators a dangerous presence on the right side of their offense.
At 28, Batherson is squarely in his prime. That matters if Ottawa is thinking long term.
An eight-year extension would run through the 2027-28 season and take him to age 37, which gives the Senators a chance to lock in one of their own for the bulk of his best years. There’s also the appeal of the rarest kind of player: someone who spends his whole career in one uniform.
If Ottawa gets this done, Batherson could be in position to do exactly that.
The money, though, will be the real test. He could be aiming for something in the $10 million range, with Alex Tuch’s eight-year, $10.5 million contract presented as the cleanest comparison. And with the salary cap expected to rise significantly in the coming years, an eight-year agreement could actually help Ottawa keep the average annual value more manageable over time.
Still, sentiment only goes so far. The Senators can’t afford to let this drift into a situation where Batherson walks for nothing. GM Steve Staios already showed with the Brady Tkachuk situation that he’s willing to make a hard move when needed, and that precedent matters here too.
If the sides can’t bridge the gap, Batherson would have plenty of value on the trade market. The Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers have been mentioned as possible interested teams, and Ottawa could get a strong return if it decides to move him. A sign-and-trade would also be an option, but the Senators can’t wait around forever to see whether that path opens up.
Once September 15th passes, the pressure only gets heavier. Ottawa will either need Batherson locked in as part of its future or on the table as a trade chip before he reaches unrestricted free agency next summer. Either way, the Senators need a decision soon.
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