The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch recently shared that teams have been reaching out to the Senators to see if top forward Drake Batherson is available. However, Garrioch reports that Ottawa isn’t looking for a large-scale trade, and is instead shopping around winger Dominik Kubalik. This could be in an effort to make space for Shane Pinto, who is currently serving a 41-game suspension after violating the league’s sports wagering rules.
Kubalik is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st and carries a $2MM cap hit this season. The 28-year-old has managed four goals and five points through 19 games this season, also adding six penalty minutes and a -10. Kubalik previously scored 30 goals and 46 points in the 2019-20 season, his rookie year in the NHL. His scoring took a step back following the exciting rookie year, but he managed 20 goals and 45 points in 81 games with the Detroit Red Wings last season.
And while those are certainly fine numbers for a cheap, depth forward, it’s easy to see why Batherson is the one teams are interested in. The 25-year-old winger currently has 14 points, split evenly, through 19 games this season. He’s coming off of a career-year that saw him record 22 goals and 62 points in 82 games last season. The breakout year was apart of a steady climb in scoring, with Batherson recording 34 points in 2020-21 and 44 points in only 46 games during the 2021-22 season. The young forward is also cost-controlled through 2026-27, carrying a cap hit of $4.975MM in each of the next four seasons.
Other notes from around the league:
- The Montreal Canadiens have activated 22-year-old defenseman Arber Xhekaj off of injured reserve and loaned him to the AHL. Xhekaj appeared in 17 games with Montreal this season, scoring three points and recording 47 penalty minutes, before being moved to IR with an upper-body injury. He will play in the first AHL games of his career on this loan, as he previously made the jump from the OHL straight to the NHL.
- Garrioch also shared that Ridly Greig is expected to play for the Senators in their Tuesday night matchup against the New York Rangers. Greig has been out of action for the last 10 games, after being moved to long-term injured reserve with a lower-body injury.
Is Pinto eligible to sign after 12/1 has passed?
Yes