Canadiens & Senators Becoming Potential Trade Partners
Per Marco D'Amico on The Starr & D'Amico Show, the Canadiens could be interested in Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson if the Senators are unable to sign him to a contract extension.
There's no indication Kent Hughes and Ottawa GM Steve Staios are negotiating a trade right now, but Montreal appears to be a team worth watching if the Senators' contract situation eventually forces their hand.
A Contract Standoff That's Dragged All Summer
Batherson is entering the final season of a six-year, $4.95 million deal, and talks on an extension have gone nowhere fast.
Per Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen, the two sides "aren't close" to an agreement, with Batherson seeking $10 million to $11 million annually, a number that would shatter Ottawa's existing salary structure. Garrioch noted the Senators have historically been reluctant to include signing bonuses in their contracts, a structural sticking point that could push Batherson toward testing the market instead.
Marco D'Amico on The Starr & D'Amico Show about Batherson : ''What's going to happen with Drake Batherson in Ottawa? He wants 10 to 11 million. Well, if Ottawa doesn't want to give it to him, I could tell you the Montreal Canadiens probably will, right ? That's a player that I… pic.twitter.com/AZ0xnMyFti
— R i N K Y (@RinkyReport) August 14, 2026
The Senators already lost captain Brady Tkachuk to Florida this offseason, and letting a second core piece walk for nothing would be a significant blow to a roster that made real strides last season.
Why He'd Fit In Montreal
Batherson has been Ottawa's property since the Senators took him 121st overall in 2017, and he's developed into one of their most consistent scorers, setting a new career high with 71 points last season. He's appeared in 479 career regular-season games with 149 goals and 215 assists.
Will Drake Batherson be a $10 million player?
— Dobber (@DobberHockey) August 14, 2026
Last year he played 79 games last season, putting up 33 goals and 38 assists.
I’ve got him at 83 GP, 31 goals and 48 assists this year. Contract year too.📈
That’s a jump from 70 to 79 points.#FantasyHockey #NHL #GoSensGo #Sens https://t.co/0IWdj416wb pic.twitter.com/oBQf96gEv5
Montreal has been aggressively involved in trade speculation all summer, chasing names like Kirill Marchenko and Matthew Knies as it looks to add scoring punch to its forward group.
