Drake Batherson is staring down a major payday, and the Senators have a decision to make before the Sept. 15 deadline. With one year left on his six-year deal, Batherson’s camp is pushing for an eight-year extension in the $10-11 million range, and the race is on to get something done before the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement changes the rules on maximum extension length.
Bruce Garrioch: With a Sept. 15 deadline looming to sign an eight-year extension before the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement takes effect, there remains a gap between Drake Batherson and the Senators on a new contract - Ottawa Citizen (8/17)
- NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) August 20, 2026
The conversation around Batherson’s next contract starts with the market. According to TheScore, the Alex Tuch and Adrian Kempe deals are the comparables being used in negotiations, and the old idea of locking up established players on eight-year, $8 million contracts is quickly fading.
With the cap climbing, salaries are climbing with it, and the argument here is that $10 million is becoming the new baseline for proven 70-point players. Even the Sidney Crosby discount from 2009 would be worth $17.5 million in today’s cap structure.
That’s the reality Ottawa is dealing with now. Some fans may balk at the idea of Batherson making more than Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson, but the logic behind the deal is straightforward: in today’s cap world, the dollars have changed, and Batherson’s value has changed with them.
And his game has absolutely moved forward. When he first signed his contract, Batherson was a 30-point player with 17 goals and 17 assists.
Since then, he has developed into a 70-point threat, producing 30 goals and 41 assists. His shot has sharpened, his passing has grown, and over the last five seasons, both parts of his offensive game have taken clear steps.
There’s been progress in the playoffs too. Batherson has gone from two points in six games in 2024-25 to four points in four games in the last playoffs. If he can keep producing at a 70-point clip, a $10 million deal starts to look a lot more justified.
Of course, he isn’t flawless. Batherson’s turnovers can be an issue, and last season he had 62 of them.
That’s not unusual for a player driving offense, but some of those mistakes swung games the wrong way. He’s also been a steady negative in the +/- column.
On the other hand, he brings more physicality than people often give him credit for, finishing last season with 122 hits.
That’s the tradeoff. He’s not a perfect player, but the flaws don’t erase the overall picture.
Batherson has improved dramatically since his first deal, going from a 30-point winger to a 30-goal, 70-point producer, and there’s still reason to believe there’s another level coming. If he reaches 80 points at his peak, a $10 million contract won’t look like an overpay at all.
For now, the case is pretty simple: Batherson has earned the right to be paid like a top-end producer, and the Senators should move quickly if they want to keep him in that range long term.
In Other News...
Patrik Laine Could Be The Senators Gamble Fans Cant Ignore
Patrik Laines market has stayed strangely quiet for a player with his kind of pedigree, and that has naturally led to some speculation about where a fresh start might make sense. The Finnish winger and former second-overall pick spent most of last season on injured reserve, then managed only a brief five-game run with the Montreal Canadiens, which only deepened the sense that any next contract would have to be built around his health as much as his shot.
For the Senators, the appeal is obvious: if Laine can stay available, he still offers the kind of goal-scoring punch that can change a power play and maybe swing a few more games their way when the margins tighten in spring. Ottawa would also have a practical reason to look hard at the fit, since a short-term, low-risk arrangement could give them upside without boxing them in, especially if the deal is shaped around performance bonuses and other protections while Laines situation remains unresolved. [Read more 🡒]