The Ottawa Senators brought it down to the wire, but they got the deal done. Drake Batherson will remain in the nation’s capital for the next nine years. The fourth-round pick from the 2017 NHL Draft has become a star for the Sens, and after Brady Tkachuk's departure, locking in their stars has become more important than ever for the franchise.
Batherson has grown as a player each season since joining the NHL in 2018, hitting career highs in goals (33) and points (71) last season. He’s posted 60+ points and 25+ goals for three years, and he’s mostly stayed healthy. His profile shows a guy who teams can win with, especially when surrounded by the likes of Tim Stutzle and Dylan Cozens.
The contract comes with a little sticker shock, and there’s definitely some risk. The Senators will start paying this contract, which comes with a $10.75 million AAV, when Batherson is 29 years old. This contract continues until Batherson is 37 years old.
However, getting the deal done now was important. As many know, the previous NHL CBA ends on Tuesday, the same day that Batherson signed his contract. Contract rules are changing exponentially.
Most know that eight-year contracts are out the door. If Batherson wanted that eighth year, it was important to hit his number to make sure everyone walked away happy. We saw the same thing with guys like Cale Makar in Colorado and Ryan Leonard in Washington. It’s more than that.
The Senators did what it takes to get Batherson signed to a long-term deal
See, the contract structure that Batherson agreed to was very unlike what we’ve seen from the Senators in the past. According to Puck Pedia, the Senators were willing to put a lot of this contract in bonus structures, something that isn’t as fluid in the current CBA. This contract would not be possible tomorrow, throwing what was probably months of negotiating in the trash and forcing both sides to start from scratch.
The #GoSensGo signed 28 y/o F Drake Batherson to an eight year $10.75M cap hit contract
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) September 15, 2026
Yr 1-2: $6M Salary, $6M Signing Bonus
Yr 3: $5M,$6M SB
Yr 4: $9M,$2M SB
Yr 5-6: $7.5M,$3M SB
Yr 7-8: $7.5M,$2M SB
Full NMC Yr 1-4, 20 team NTC Yr 5-7, 15 team NTC Yr 8
1st on signing…
Batherson gets a lot of risk taken out of the contract for himself. As we know, signing bonuses are often spared during NHL stoppages, whether by lockout or for other reasons. They get paid on July 1st, or whenever the league year begins. In the new CBA, the amount of the contract that can be bonuses shrinks.
The $30 million in bonuses is the first time the Senators have ever gone that high. Heck, this is already the most expensive contract in Senators’ history, but the structure matters. This is likely why Batherson will be there for as long as he is. With so many others betting on themselves and signing short-term deals, Batherson has committed to Ottawa.
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