The Ottawa Senators have signed Drake Batherson an eight-year contract worth $10.75 million per season, making it the largest contract in franchise history. That kind of money comes with pressure, and Batherson is going to have to deal with it every night.
There were already going to be more expectations on Batherson after the Senators traded Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers. Tkachuk was one of the biggest names on the team and a player who carried a lot of responsibility. With him gone, Ottawa needs other players to step up, and Batherson is one of the obvious names.
Batherson will face extra pressure after his extension
Batherson has been an important part of the Senators for the last eight years, but this contract puts him into a different category. Ottawa isn't paying him like just another top-six forward. They are paying him like a top player, who can lead them into the playoffs or even Stanley Cup contention for years to come.
That means his offensive numbers are going to be watched closer than ever. In years past, he has been playing behind the likes of Tim Stutzle, Tkachuk and even at times Claude Giroux. But now, that is no longer the case. He is being paid like a star player, so he will need to play like one. That doesn’t necessarily mean that he needs to score 40 goals and get 80 points. However, that does mean that he needs to be someone the team can rely on when they need someone to step up.
With Tkachuk no longer around, Batherson is going to have to become one of the veterans who helps set the tone for the team. He has been around long enough now that the younger players will be looking at him as one of the leaders in the room.
That doesn't mean Batherson has to carry the Senators by himself. Ottawa still has plenty of other important players like the aforementioned Stutzle, Giroux and even newly acquired William Eklund and the team needs everyone to do their part. But Batherson is now going to be one of the players expected to make a difference when the Senators need it most.
The contract is a huge vote of confidence from Ottawa. It shows that players want to not play in Canada but for the Senators. It’s been a hard offseason for the fan base; their fan base was hurt deeply by the departure of Tkachuk. However, now this is the win that they needed: one of their top players signed long-term and could be playing for the Senators for the better part of 16 seasons. Which is just incredible. Obviously, a contract of his magnitude comes with a ton of pressure, but at the same time, it also is just an overall great day for the organization as a whole.
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