The Ottawa Senators sign forward Drake Batherson to an eight-year, $86-million (US) contract extension, the team announces. The deal follows Ottawa’s earlier trade of Brady Tkachuk this offseason and comes as the Senators finalize key roster commitments.
Multiple outlets report the Senators and Batherson target finalizing the agreement around the NHL collective bargaining deadline, with contract discussions continuing in the days leading up to Tuesday. Reporting also notes Batherson has been with Ottawa for years after his entry-level contract and is eligible for a new extension. The Ottawa Citizen and other outlets describe the agreement as a major pay raise and among the largest in franchise history, with figures reported as an average annual value of about $10.75 million per season.
Some outlets frame the moment with additional context on Batherson’s recent performance, citing a career-best season before the signing. Others focus more on the status of negotiations leading up to the deadline, including earlier reporting that talks were progressing but not settled. Across sources, there is broad agreement on the length and overall value of the contract.
