The NHL’s contract market is moving fast, and three teams are staring at the same problem from different angles: young talent is getting expensive in a hurry.
In Edmonton, Matt Savoie is the next name to watch. The Oilers have not had a ton of ultra-young standouts lately, but Savoie has already carved out a real place for himself.
He played all 82 games and finished with 37 points, while also showing he can help on the penalty kill. He’s even proven he can skate alongside Connor McDavid, which only adds to his value for Edmonton.
The wrinkle is timing. Savoie still has a year left, and the Oilers appear locked in on this season, so extension talks have not started yet.
That could be risky. If his offense takes another step, his price could climb fast, and Edmonton could wind up paying more than it wants.
San Jose already made its move with Macklin Celebrini, and the number attached to it is eye-catching. The Sharks signed him for five more years at a record-setting $18.8 million AAV, a deal that will sit at the top of the league when it kicks in.
For some fans, the sticker shock is the headline. But with Celebrini posting 115 points in what was described as a “down” year and still finishing fourth in scoring, it’s tough to argue the Sharks overpaid.
The cap is also rising, which should soften the blow over time. Even so, this contract is the kind that resets expectations and makes every future negotiation a little more complicated.
Ottawa is dealing with a much messier version of the same issue. The Senators want to keep Drake Batherson before he can reach unrestricted free agency next summer, but league sources say the two sides are far apart.
Batherson is currently making about $4.95 million per year, and the sense is that he could be looking for something in the $10-$11 million range on the open market. Ottawa wants him back, but the club is trying to make the math work within its own contract structure.
Recent star deals have pushed the market higher, and if the Senators can’t bridge the gap - especially with reports that they’re not big on signing bonuses - Batherson may be inclined to see what free agency has to offer.
In Other News...
Drake Bathersons Senators Future Suddenly Feels Far Less Certain
Drake Batherson is heading into the final season of the six-year contract he signed with Ottawa in 2021, and the Senators are already facing a familiar kind of pressure point with one of their most important forwards. Batherson has been one of the clubs most productive players, finishing last season with 71 points while also contributing in the playoffs, which only heightens the significance of what comes next for a team that has leaned on his offense.
Bathersons camp and the Senators still have not lined up on an extension, even as there is belief he wants to stay in Ottawa for the foreseeable future. For a player who has grown into a leading scorer, the uncertainty is less about what he means to the roster than about how the organization values him over the long term, and that gap is going to hang over the season until it gets resolved. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Keep Getting Linked To The Blue Line Fix Fans Want
Even after Brady Tkachuks departure in June, the Senators have not exactly gone quiet about the blue line. Ottawa has been connected to Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, a veteran right-shot option who would give the club another experienced body on the back end, and the interest fits with a front office that has been trying to balance immediate stability with a roster that still has room to grow.
Steve Staios has publicly sounded comfortable with the depth already in place, which makes the Ristolainen chatter more of a watch-this-space situation than an urgent push. Still, with one year left on his contract and Ottawa continuing to be mentioned as a team looking for defensive help, the Senators appear to be keeping their options open as they sort out what the next version of the blue line should look like. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Suddenly Face A Massive DeBrincat Decision
While the leagues attention has been pulled toward a few headline-grabbing contract situations, Ottawa has its own negotiation hanging in the background with Drake Batherson. The Senators have opened extension discussions, but there is still no agreement, and the gap between the sides remains wide as the club tries to map out its next core commitment.
Bathersons next deal is expected to require a significant raise, which only adds pressure to a process that has not moved quickly. For a Senators team trying to keep its roster on the same timeline, the unresolved talks are another reminder that the offseason work around the edges can matter just as much as the bigger names getting the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]