Ottawa Senators and Drake Batherson still have a gap to bridge with Sept. 15 deadline looming

An April 2026 file photo of Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson during an optional skate. Photo by Tony Caldwell /POSTMEDIA

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There is work to be done if the Ottawa Senators are going to get Drake Batherson to sign on the dotted line.

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With a Sept. 15 deadline looming to sign an eight-year extension before the National Hockey League’s new collective bargaining agreement takes effect, league sources say the two sides aren’t close to a deal.

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Talks between Steve Staios, the Senators’ president of hockey operations and general manager, and Batherson’s Toronto-based agent, Paul Capizzano of Quartexx Management, are believed to be continuing with other teams watching closely.

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Batherson stated on Tuesday that he wanted to finish his career with the Senators, and Staios said he was confident the two sides would get a deal in place.

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

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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.

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Tuch signed a whopping eight-year, $84-million 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.

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Tuch had 33 goals and 33 assists for 66 points last season with the Sabres. In 600 NHL games, he has 220 goals and 228 assists for 448 points. He wasn’t great in the playoffs in Buffalo, but it didn’t hurt his value.

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Kempe signed an eight-year, $85-million extension with the Kings last November, meaning it will pay him $10.625 million per season.

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People keep talking about Batherson’s age as being a factor.

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What’s interesting, though, is that the eight-year deals for Kempe and Tuch kick in when those players are 30. If Batherson signs an eight-year contract now, he’ll be 29 in the first year of the deal, and he’s coming off the first 30-goal season of his NHL career.

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