Ominous Deadline Set For Batherson & Senators: Report

We brought you the report in mid-August that Drake Batherson, going into the final year of his contract, and the Ottawa Senators are far apart in talks on a long-term extension. Both sides seem to want an eight-year deal, but the window is fast closing, as those are going the way of the dinosaur with the expiry of the current CBA in less than two weeks (Sept. 15). 

But an even bigger and more ominous deadline is now looming for Senators GM Steve Staios, according to Bruce Garrioch in the Ottawa Citizen: 

If Staios cannot secure an extension with Drake Batherson’s agent, Paul Capizzano, before the puck drops on Oct. 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, then the expectation is that he’ll become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2027.

Batherson has been eligible for an extension since July 1, but there remains a large gap, according to reports. He's coming off a six-year, $29.85 million deal ($4.975M AAV), and he's looking for a raise that would more than double his salary, into the double-digit millions. 

"Elliotte Friedman... noted last week, 'there is a path to a deal' between the Senators and Batherson," writes Garrioch, "but it would appear that would require compromise by one or both parties." 

"Deadlines are a catalyst to complete deals," he adds, which is why both the Sept. 15 deadline, the start of camp deadline just days later, and now the Opening Night deadline are all important milestones. 

"Every day that passes without an extension only invites more speculation about his future. That's why September 15th matters. It's not only about preserving the ability to sign an eight-year contract. It's about eliminating uncertainty before it grows into something difficult to manage. Batherson going to camp unsigned would be a distraction, and we all know the Senators don't need any of those."

Batherson is coming off a career year in which he hit the 30-goal mark for the first time, finishing with 33 markers and 71 points in 79 games. Across eight NHL seasons, all with Ottawa, he has 149 goals and 364 points in 470 games.