Deadline looms as Senators, Batherson work to close gap

Ottawa Senators rookie camp started at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa Friday. Ottawa Senators General Manager Steve Staios speaking to Ottawa Senator Drake Batherson during practice Friday. Photo by Tony Caldwell /POSTMEDIA

Article content

Drake Batherson’s future with the Ottawa Senators is coming down to the wire.

Article content

With a Tuesday deadline looming large to sign Batherson to an eight-year extension before the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement takes effect, the Senators were trying to close the gap to get him signed on the dotted line.

Article content

Article content

Both sides have stated they want a contract in place. We’ll say again that time is of the essence.

Article content

Article content

The Senators and Batherson’s camp haven’t closed the gap on key elements, but there is also little indication either side wants this negotiation to drag beyond Tuesday’s deadline.

Article content

Article content

Discussions between Steve Staios and Batherson’s agent, Paul Capizzano of Quartexx Hockey, have continued in recent days and were expected to intensify on the weekend.

Article content

The Senators and Batherson’s camp are targeting an eight-year extension, but there are other issues holding up the deal. The expectation around the league is that both sides will continue pushing toward a deal before Tuesday’s deadline.

Article content

Salaries in the NHL are on the rise. The talk is that the Anaheim Ducks are likely to sign restricted free agent winger Cutter Gauthier to a long-term contract worth in excess of $14 million US a season.

Article content

Deadline drama

Article content

The Senators have until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday to get Batherson to sign on the dotted line. If he doesn’t, then there is no reason to believe the Senators will be willing to pay the 28-year-old Batherson a higher average annual value on a seven-year deal.

Article content

The term limit for re-signings will change to seven years on Sept. 16, and the maximum term would be six years as an unrestricted free agent as of July 1, 2027.

Article content

Article content

We believe there is a strong chance this deal will get done because there is motivation on both sides to make this happen. Batherson wants to stay with the Senators for the rest of his career and Staios has said publicly that they want to keep him.

Article content

Deadlines often act as an incentive to get deals done. Batherson said at the club’s charity golf tournament on Tuesday that his preference is to get this done before training camp gets underway on Wednesday.

Article content

“I want to get it done before camp,” Batherson said. “Like I said, I’m not going to get too much into it, I’m going to let my agent handle that. I just hope it gets done.”

Article content

He wouldn’t confirm it, but the belief is that if an extension isn’t reached before the season begins, Batherson is likely to play out the final year of his contract and test free agency next summer.

Article content

Surely, it’s not going to come to that for the Senators and Batherson.

Article content

The Citizen has reported that Batherson’s camp is using the contracts of Alex Tuch of the Washington Capitals and Adrian Kempe of the Los Angeles Kings as comparables in these talks.

Article content

Tuch signed a whopping eight-year, $84-million US contract with the Capitals following a sign-and-trade dead with the Buffalo Sabres in advance of free agency. He will make $10.5 million, which is just over 10 per cent of the club’s total salary cap for the coming season.