Drake Batherson's new contract is going to have an impact on more than just the Ottawa Senators' salary cap. Batherson signed an eight-year contract worth $10.75 million per season, making him the highest-paid player in franchise history. It is a huge commitment from the Senators, but it also gives future free agents something to look at when they negotiate their own contracts in Ottawa.
Batherson's contract is the new ceiling for the Senators' internal cap
Every team has to deal with the NHL salary cap, but teams also have their own idea of what they are comfortable paying certain players. Ottawa now has Batherson making $10.75 million per season, which means the Senators have to be careful about how high they are willing to go with other contracts. If another player has a strong season and eventually reaches free agency, Batherson's contract is going to be part of the conversation. That player can point to the biggest contract in the Senators' history and ask why they shouldn't be paid similarly if they believe they have earned it.
That doesn't mean every player is going to get $10 million-plus. Batherson's contract is going to be the top end, and there should still be a big difference between what the Senators pay their best players and what they pay everyone else. But the number has been set now, and that can make future negotiations more difficult. Ottawa also has to think about how much money it wants tied up in its top players. Batherson is now taking up a big part of the team's salary structure, and the Senators still need to have enough room to pay their top players, like Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot and even Tim Stutzle, while also addressing other needs on their team.
This is especially important because the Senators are trying to build a team that can compete for years. They can't just be handing out big contracts to every player, despite the salary cap continuing to increase. At some point, there has to be a limit to what they are comfortable paying. Which is why Batherson’s new contract is so important for the future of the organization. The Batherson deal will likely work in the Senators' favour if they handle it properly. Having a clear top end for contracts can make it easier to know where other players fit. Not everyone needs to be paid like a star, and Ottawa can use Batherson's contract as one of the numbers that helps shape the rest of the roster.
Unless they are one of Stutzle, Sanderson or even Chabot, everyone else who is due for an extension is likely going to land below Batherson in AAV. That same thing goes for free agents; if it’s a top star like Jason Robertson, who is a UFA in 2027-28, it’s unlikely that Senators’ GM Steve Staios is going to exceed that number. Which could truly work in the Senators' favour, long term.
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