There’s still a gap to bridge between the Senators and Drake Batherson, but both sides remain interested in getting an extension done.
The sticking point is money, and that’s where things have yet to line up. September 15 is seen as the natural cutoff because it’s the last day an eight-year contract can be signed, but Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch points to another date that could matter just as much. If Batherson doesn’t have a new deal by the time Ottawa opens its season on October 3, the expectation is that he’ll head toward the open market next summer.
Batherson is coming off the best offensive season of his career. In 79 games, he put up 33 goals and 38 assists. His camp is believed to be aiming for a double-digit AAV on the next contract, and Ottawa doesn’t appear ready to go there yet.
In Montreal’s system, goaltender Yevgeni Volokhin has already locked in his next step. A team release said the Canadiens prospect has signed a new three-year deal with KHL Spartak, keeping him there through 2028-29 after the two sides tore up his previous contract, which still had two seasons left.
Montreal picked Volokhin in the fifth round in 2023, and he was the VHL’s top goalie last season. He posted a 1.51 GAA, a .948 SV% and nine shutouts in 40 games.
Even with those numbers, he only appeared in four games for Spartak. Because there is no transfer agreement between the NHL and the Russian hockey federation, the Canadiens have no deadline to sign him.
As for Lightning prospect Noah Steen, his North American pro career is just getting started, but he hasn’t forgotten his old club. In a video posted on SHL Orebro’s site, the 22-year-old left the door open to a return there someday.
This season is the first year of a two-year deal for Steen, and he is expected to spend it exclusively with Syracuse. From there, he could work his way into recall territory as the year progresses. Last season, he totaled 22 points in 52 SHL games and added seven goals for Norway in 10 World Championship appearances.
In Other News...
Senators Still Have One Chance To Justify Their Biggest Gamble
Ottawa is heading into its first training camp without Brady Tkachuk, and the change in feel is already hard to miss. General manager Steve Staios moved the captain to Florida, then turned part of that return into William Eklund from San Jose, a sign the Senators are betting that more speed and skill can offset some of the edge and physical presence they just gave up.
The roster should look quicker and more dynamic, but that also puts a spotlight on what comes next. If Staios is going to fully sell the idea that this was a worthwhile gamble, the Senators still have room to work the rest of the trade return during the season, with the possibility of adding another skilled forward before spring arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Kleven Is Giving The Senators A Blue-Line Identity
Tyler Klevens second full NHL season with Ottawa asked him to do more than just fill space on the third pair. With injuries thinning the blue line, the Senators leaned on the young defenseman in a bigger defensive role, and he answered with the kind of physical, reliable shifts that can steady a back end over the long haul. His offensive numbers stayed modest, but his value was always easier to see in the tough minutes, where he brought edge and a clear sense of identity to a group that needed it.
The next step for Kleven is less about proving he belongs and more about smoothing out the rough edges in his game. His puck-moving under pressure still wavered at times, and the penalty minutes climbed as the workload got heavier, which is part of the learning curve for a defenseman being asked to handle more responsibility. Even so, Ottawa came away encouraged by what it saw in the spring, where Klevens playoff run hinted at a player who can be trusted when the games tighten up. [Read more 🡒]