Overtime talks continue as Ottawa Senators try to lock up Drake Batherson

Drake Batherson is entering the final season of a six-year deal worth $4.95 million U.S. annually. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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Talks between the Ottawa Senators and Drake Batherson’s camp stretched late into Monday night as the club raced to beat Tuesday’s deadline for an eight-year contract extension.

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The belief in league circles is that Steve Staios, the Ottawa Senators president of hockey operations and general manager, and Batherson’s agent, Paul Capizzano, of Quartexx Hockey were working overtime to try get to a deal completed.

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Tuesday is the deadline for the Senators to sign their top winger to an eight-year contract extension before the new collective bargaining agreement takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday.

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

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The Ottawa Citizen reported on Monday that the two sides are focused on an eight-year deal in these discussions. The question entering Tuesday was whether the two sides could bridge the remaining gap before the clock ran out.

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If it gets done, it will likely be the largest contract in franchise history because salaries in the National Hockey League are on the rise. Tim Stutzle signed an eight-year $66.8 million US deal in September 2022, but a deal with Batherson will eclipse that amount.

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While there was speculation that the Senators could still sign Batherson to a six- or seven-year contract after the deadline, there is no reason to believe that will be the case because waiting would likely push the average annual value higher.

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