Drake Batherson Makes Long-Term Commitment to Senators With $86 Million Deal
Drake Batherson tries to score during a Senators matchup at Climate Pledge Arena on Dec. 17, 2024. Photo by Jenn G.
Written by Ryan McAvoy
OTTAWA — After weeks of back-and-forth between Drake Batherson's camp and the Ottawa Senators, the two parties have finally struck a deal, agreeing to an eight-year, $86-million extension through the 2034-35 season. It is a record-high contract for the Senators, demonstrating how much the organization is investing in Batherson’s future with the team.
The timing of the deal was significant. Batherson’s side faced a deadline to reach an agreement if he wanted to lock in an eight-year extension. The NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement was set to go into effect September 16, and if no deal had been made, the maximum extension Batherson could receive would have dropped from eight years to seven.
The deal came down to the wire and was signed on September 15, 2026. Taking negotiations that close to the deadline shows how much both sides valued getting the deal done, while Batherson made it clear where he wanted to spend the next stage of his career.
"Really excited. Obviously they've been working at it pretty much all summer and excited it got done before training camp and now I can just relax and play some hockey," Batherson said in an interview with NHL.com. "Obviously going into last year, you think about, 'Do I want to test the market or do I want to stay here?' And my mind just kept coming back to, I wanted to get a deal done in Ottawa and play here for as long as I can."
That decision comes after the 2025-26 season, which was Batherson’s best to date. He finished with 33 goals and 71 points in 79 games. He also led the Senators in playoff goals despite their early exit to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Now that he is officially the Senators’ highest-paid player in history, Batherson is locked into the team as a core offensive player for the foreseeable future. With that comes greater responsibility to be a leader both on and off the ice.
The departure of five-year captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers also leaves an opening for someone to step into a larger leadership role. While Batherson may not be named captain this year, he has already begun laying the groundwork for a possible promotion over the next eight years.
With most of Ottawa’s offensive core committed for the next several years, there are greater expectations for the Senators to make deeper playoff runs in the coming season. The Senators have appeared in two consecutive playoffs after missing them from 2018 to 2024.
Batherson’s extension also makes him one of the highest-paid players in the competitive Atlantic Division. He’s behind William Nylander, Rasmus Dahlin, Auston Matthews, and David Pastrnak in terms of salary, but Batherson is on track to be right there with them in skill.
"Drake's a really good hockey player," coach Travis Green said during an interview with NHL.com. "I'm happy. First of all, I'm happy for him. You know, he's going to be a Senator for a long, long time. Anytime your players get rewarded, you're happy for them. I want them all to do well, and you know he's deserving of it, and he's a really good player for us. I think we all know that, and you don't get a contract like that if you're not."
Batherson had the opportunity to consider his future elsewhere, but ultimately chose to remain in Ottawa. The eight-year, $86 million extension keeps him with the Senators through the prime of his career and gives him a chance to continue growing alongside the organization.
He has already established himself as an important part of Ottawa’s core. Now, with eight more years ahead of him, Batherson can take on an even larger role as the Senators work toward becoming a team capable of taking the next step.
