Drake Batherson signs eight-year, $86m extension with Senators

Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson has signed an eight-year contract extension worth $86m, keeping him with the NHL club through the 2034-35 season.

The deal carries an average annual value of $10.75m and will make Batherson the highest-paid player in Senators history by both total contract value and average annual salary.

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Batherson will play the upcoming season under his existing contract, which pays him $4.975m, before the new extension begins.

Senators general manager and president of hockey operations Steve Staios said Batherson had become an important part of the organisation after being drafted and developed by the club.

“Drake exemplifies what it is to be an Ottawa Senator,” Staios said. “He was drafted and developed by our organization and has shown a commitment to wanting to be in Ottawa long term. We view him as a key part of our core group.”

Batherson was selected by Ottawa in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Draft and made his debut during the 2018-19 season, appearing in 20 games.

The 28-year-old enjoyed the best offensive season of his career last campaign, recording a career-high 71 points in 79 games, including 33 goals.

He also led the Senators in playoff scoring, registering three goals and one assist in four games before Ottawa were eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round.

Batherson increased his points total for a seventh consecutive season last year, becoming only the second player in NHL history to achieve that feat.

With 364 career points, he is currently 10th on the Senators’ all-time scoring list.

The long-term extension underlines Ottawa’s belief that Batherson will remain a key part of the team as the club looks to build around its core and compete for sustained success.