Drake Batherson puts Senators' new 'Hill We Choose' motto to the test

Drake Batherson walked the red carpet in September 2025, greeting Ottawa Senators fans at Fan Fest. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia

Article content

We will find out sometime in the next week what hill the Ottawa Senators will choose in negotiations with Drake Batherson.

Article content

With a Sept. 15 deadline looming to sign an eight-year extension before the National Hockey League’s new collective bargaining agreement takes effect, there remains a gap between Batherson and the Senators on a new contract.

Article content

Article content

Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, and Batherson will both be on hand Tuesday at the club’s annual Senators Foundation charity tournament, which will be held at the Rideau View Golf Club in Manotick.

Article content

Article content

The 28-year-old Batherson arrived in Ottawa on the weekend after spending the summer at his home near Halifax. He would prefer to stay with the Senators after setting down roots here, but is aware that, with a rising salary cap, there may be greener pastures elsewhere.

Article content

Article content

The advantage the Senators and Batherson have in this negotiation is that the only place he can get the eight-year deal he covets is with Ottawa. The term limit for re-signings changes to seven years on Sept. 16, and six years as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2027.

Article content

There is no reason to believe that something won’t get done because both sides want to make a deal, but a league insider told the Ottawa Citizen that this is a complicated negotiation, and it’s in the best interests of the Senators to get these talks moving.

Article content

So, what’s the price of an extension?

Article content

Batherson is entering the final season of a six-year contract worth $4.95 million U.S. annually. That deal was signed by former general manager Pierre Dorion, who also did an excellent job signing centre Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson to eight-year deals.

Article content

Article content

But the landscape in the NHL has changed since Stutzle and Sanderson both signed deals that pay them just over $8 million per season. The salary cap is on the rise, and the belief is that if Batherson does reach the open market, his salary could eclipse $11 million per year.

Article content

Article content

The Citizen has reported that forwards Alex Tuch of the Washington Capitals and Adrian Kempe of the Los Angeles Kings are comparables for Batherson’s next deal.

Article content

Tuch, who could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, signed a whopping eight-year, $84 million contract with the Capitals following a sign-and-trade in advance of free agency.

Article content

Tuch, 30, had 33 goals and 66 points last season with the Sabres. In 600 NHL games, he has 220 goals and 448 points. He wasn’t great in the playoffs in Buffalo, but it didn’t hurt his value.

Article content

The 29-year-old Kempe signed an eight-year, $85 million extension with the Kings last November, which will pay him $10.625 million per season.

Article content

Batherson posted the first 30-goal season of his career last year. In his last four seasons, Batherson has scored 109 of his 149 career NHL goals over a span of 325 games.