Full Breakdown
Ottawa Senators Secure Drake Batherson on Record-Setting Eight-Year Deal
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Core Event: Extension Finalized Ahead of Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Deadline
The Ottawa Senators have reached an agreement with right-winger Drake Batherson on an eight-year contract extension. The deal, announced in mid-September 2026, carries an average annual value (AAV) of $10.75 million, totaling $86 million over its term. It becomes the largest contract in franchise history and locks the 28-year-old forward in Ottawa through the 2033-34 season.
Background & Context
Batherson, a fourth-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, entered the league in 2018-19 and has become a core member of Ottawa’s top-six. After a breakout junior season and steady progression in the AHL, he posted a career-high 33 goals and 71 points in 79 games during the 2025-26 season. His existing six-year, $29.85 million contract expires after the 2026-27 season, and he would have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 2026.
The NHL’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is set to change on September 16 2026, reducing the maximum term a team may offer its own free agents from eight years to seven. Consequently, both the Senators and Batherson faced pressure to finalize the extension before the September 15 deadline.
Data & Statistics
- Career totals (as of 2026-27): 149 goals, 215 assists, 364 points in 470 games.
- 2025-26 season: 33 goals, 71 points in 79 games (career best).
- Contract terms reported:
- DailyFaceoff: eight-year, $86 million, $10.75 million AAV.
- Sportskeeda (citing sources): AAV between $10.5 million and $11 million, $84-88 million total.
Official Statements & Responses
He added that the deal would reset the internal salary cap and positions Batherson as the top-paid player on the roster, ahead of teammates Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson.
Pierre LeBrun of *The Athletic* highlighted the timing, noting that “All eyes in Ottawa are on Drake Batherson, who is entering the last year on his deal with the Senators at a $4.975 million cap hit. He would become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise financial scope of the extension. DailyFaceoff specifies an $86 million total with a $10.75 million AAV, while Sportskeeda cites a range of $84-88 million and an AAV between $10.5 million and $11 million. No official figure has been released by the Senators, leaving the exact terms unconfirmed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “All eyes in Ottawa are on Drake Batherson, who is entering the last year on his deal with the Senators at a $4.975 million cap hit. He would become an unrestricted free agent on July 1,” — Pierre LeBrun, of The Athletic
What’s Next: Upcoming Milestones
- September 15 2026: Deadline for completing an eight-year extension before the CBA reduces maximum term length.
- September 16 2026: New CBA takes effect, limiting future extensions to seven years.
- October 3 2026: Ottawa opens its 2026-27 campaign with a three-game road trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
- October 21 2026: Former captain Brady Tkachuk returns to face Ottawa with the Florida Panthers.
The extension secures Batherson’s services through his mid-30s, providing Ottawa with a cornerstone forward as the club aims to build on its recent playoff appearances.