With Drake Batherson becoming eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1, the Ottawa Senators have a pretty big decision sitting in front of them.
For years, Batherson has been one of the better bargains in the league. His current deal carries a cap hit of just under $5 million, and the value Ottawa has gotten out of it has been tremendous. The problem, if you want to call it that, is that those discounts don't last forever.
Batherson is coming off the best season of his career, putting up 33 goals and 71 points in 79 games. At this point, he's not just a complementary piece in Ottawa's top six. He's become one of the team's most important offensive players and a big reason why the Senators feel like they're finally moving in the right direction.
His current deal runs through the 2026-27 season, but on his next deal, his camp could be looking for something in the $9 million to $10 million range annually. Given where the salary cap is headed and what proven scoring wingers are getting paid these days, it's not exactly a shocking number.
Honestly, a six-year deal worth around $54 million feels like a reasonable middle ground. A $9 million cap hit gives Batherson the raise he's earned while still giving Ottawa some flexibility moving forward. That's important because the Senators are going to have other contracts to worry about as this group continues to mature.
Is there some risk? Sure. There always is when you're talking about a long-term deal for a player approaching 30. But Batherson has been remarkably consistent, and his game isn't built around one thing. He can score, create offence, help on the power play, and play big minutes when needed.
