The Ottawa Senators and Drake Batherson are heading down a road that no fan base wants to see in today's NHL. With just one year left on his contract, he is eligible for a contract extension, but it is being reported that the two sides remain far apart.
Batherson & the Senators are reportedly not close in contract talks
According to Senators' insider Bruce Garrioch's report, the two sides "aren't close," with Batherson's asking price coming in around $10.5-11 million per season. Which poses a problem due to Tim Stutzle's $8.35 million being the largest one on the team. The Senators have done a good job implementing an internal salary cap; Stutzle makes the most in terms of AAV. Even Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot make less than Stutzle.
Which makes it hard for them to agree to pay Batherson more than another player on the team when he isn't the best or second-best player on the roster. Unfortunately, what makes it difficult to continue with the internal salary cap is that the salary cap is climbing and will continue to over the next handful of seasons. And with that, NHL players across the NHL are getting massive pay days. So how are the Senators going to tell Batherson he isn't going to get his?
Gap remains wide as Senators, Drake Batherson work toward new deal
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) July 29, 2026
Ottawa Citizen https://t.co/wgymlh2KRJ via @ottawacitizen #Sens #ottsports #ottnews #Ottawa
The only real saving grace is that they have until September to extend Batherson to an eight-year contract. So, if they come in around $8.25 million per season, that would bring his total to $66 million. However, when we look around the league at wingers who are comparable for Batherson, one that stands out is Alex Tuch.
Tuch, 30, has scored 60+ points in a season three times. With his career-high being 79 points in the 2022-23 season. He just signed an eight-year, $84 million contract with the Washington Capitals in a sign-and-trade. As for Batherson, 28, he has hit the 60-point mark four times and has a career-high 71 points that came last season. Aside from Tuch having 84 points in 145 more games, there really isn't an argument for Batherson to not be in the $10-10.5 million range.
In fact, this opens up a chance to extend the internal salary cap and continue to add top-six talent to their team and increase their chances of being annual playoff contenders.
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