The Ottawa Senators wanted to improve after losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the playoffs last season. One of their biggest goals this offseason was to sign star forward Drake Batherson to a new long-term contract. But the two sides have not reached an agreement.

Batherson has only one year left on his current deal before he can become a free agent. According to Ottawa Citizen reporter Bruce Garrioch, the team and Batherson are still far apart in contract talks.

“Batherson, who is entering the final season of a six-year deal worth $4.95 million U.S. annually, is expected by league executives to command as much as $10 million to $11 million per year on the open market," Garrioch wrote.

This price range is suggested since the New York Rangers also gave forward Pavel Dorofeyev an $11 million AAV.

As noted by Garrioch, many people around the NHL think very highly of Batherson. He has become one of Ottawa's most reliable scorers, so many expect him to get a big new contract.

"While Senators president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios has opened discussions on an extension, league sources told the Ottawa Citizen they believe the two sides ‘aren’t close’ to an agreement," he reported.

The report says the team and Batherson have started contract talks, but they still disagree on the price. If they cannot reach a deal soon, the Senators may face more pressure as Batherson gets closer to free agency.

Batherson's Rise Makes Ottawa's Decision Even More Important

In the same Ottawa Citizen report, Garrioch explained why Batherson can ask for a big new contract. The Senators picked him 121st overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. He has played his whole NHL career with Ottawa.

After spending part of his rookie season with Ottawa and the Belleville Senators, he became a full-time NHL player. In 470 regular-season games, he has scored 149 goals and 215 assists for 364 points. He also has six points, including four goals, in 10 playoff games.

Batherson is in the final year of his six-year contract, which pays him $4.95 million per season. Many people see it as a great deal for Ottawa because of his strong play.

If he has another big season, he could ask for even more money. The Senators can try to sign him now or wait and risk paying more later. The next few months could decide Batherson's future with Ottawa.

The team wants to sign one of its top players before he becomes a free agent. Now, the big question is whether both sides can agree on a new deal. 

Batherson hits free agency at the end of the 2026-27 season.

Will the Senators sign Drake Batherson before the season starts? Or will the contract talks continue? Let us know in the comments. 

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar