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Senators Sign Drake Batherson to $86M Extension

By Drooid · Sep 15, 2026, 2:05 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Senators Sign Batherson

Ottawa Senators signed forward Drake Batherson to an eight-year contract extension officially.
The deal totals $86 million with a $10.75 million average annual value.
It becomes the franchise’s largest contract, signed before the September 16 CBA change limiting extensions to seven years.
Pierre LeBrun and Bruce Garrioch reported deadline pressure drove the signing.

Summary

Oilers Pursue Batherson

The Edmonton Oilers could pursue Batherson despite his near-$5 million cap hit straining their space.
A Batherson contract would consume roughly one-third of the Oilers’ projected $25 million cap space for next season.
Ottawa could receive a 2028 or 2029 first-round pick plus forwards Mathieu Joseph and Vasily Podkolzin.
A trade would free salary for younger talent, preserving Ottawa’s ability to retain its core through 2034.

History

Historical Context

The 2004-05 lockout ended in July 2005 with a new CBA that imposed a hard $39 million salary cap for the 2005-06 season. The cap forced teams like the New York Rangers—who posted a $45 million payroll in 2006 and were fined—to reshape contracts, a trend seen in Ottawa’s $86 million eight-year deal for Drake Batherson and Edmonton’s trade using a third of a $25 million cap space.

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Senators Sign Batherson

Ottawa Senators signed forward Drake Batherson to an eight-year contract extension officially.
The deal totals $86 million with a $10.75 million average annual value.
It becomes the franchise’s largest contract, signed before the September 16 CBA change limiting extensions to seven years.
Pierre LeBrun and Bruce Garrioch reported deadline pressure drove the signing.

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