Breaking Down The Senators’ Options For Drake Batherson

The Ottawa Senators powered through an up-and-down season to sneak into the playoffs, only to be decisively bounced by the Carolina Hurricanes. The result was a disappointment, but it was a true measuring-stick series that showed the Senators how far they are from being a true Stanley Cup contender. Now the team enters the offseason with a lot of uncertainty around their captain, their netminding, and pending UFAs. However, one player whose future could also be decided is forward Drake Batherson, who can become a UFA himself on July 1st, 2027.

Batherson was one of the few Senators forwards to contribute offensively to the first round of the playoffs, scoring three goals and an assist in four games. This production came on the heels of a career year, in which the 28-year-old tallied 33 goals and 38 assists in 79 games.

That kind of production will almost certainly land Batherson a rich new contract when he reaches free agency in just over 14 months, but if you are the Ottawa Senators, do you want to pay upwards of $9MM for a player who will be entering his 30s in the second year of a potential six- or seven-year deal? It’s hard to say, but it’s something Ottawa has to think about over the next few weeks, with just a single year left on Batherson’s contract at just $4.975MM ($6.55MM in actual salary).

After a career year and a strong showing in a brief playoff window, Batherson’s stock is unlikely to be any higher, meaning a potential trade could yield the Senators a pretty healthy return, especially given how poor the free-agent market is. Any team looking to acquire Batherson will almost certainly want to do so with an extension in place, but there is risk in that, as many teams have found out the hard way.

PHR released a piece three months ago about several instances of the trade-and-sign move backfiring on teams that acquire a player and quickly extend them, without seeing them play with their group for an extended period. Jonathan Huberdeau, Timo Meier and Pierre-Luc Dubois are great examples of that approach going sideways, but just because there are cautionary tales doesn’t mean Batherson will become one. The flip side is also true, given that Matthew Tkachuk was a trade-and-extend as well, but that also doesn’t suggest Batherson will be an instant fit on a new team. These are considerations that a potentially acquiring team will have.

The other major consideration, and likely the biggest, is what assets the team will need to move to acquire him, along with the cash required to extend him. If Batherson posts another 30+ goal, 70+ point season, $9MM annually will certainly be in play on a six- or seven-year deal. But if Ottawa gets out in front of things and trades him this season, what will it take to acquire him?

As mentioned earlier, the trade market will be robust this summer, making Batherson an expensive trade target with few comparables, although one recent trade candidate could offer a glimpse into the trade market for forwards. The Pittsburgh Penguins tried to trade Rickard Rakell last summer and potentially asked for a top-tier prospect, a first-round pick, and additional assets. The caveat is that Pittsburgh never received an offer for Rakell to their liking, but they had their sights set high for a Rakell trade.

Batherson, a younger and more consistent scorer than Rakell, would have higher trade value even though he has just a year left on his deal. Batherson is four years younger than Rakell was last summer and has four consecutive 60+ point seasons to his credit, while Rakell has just three 60+ point seasons in his entire career. Another issue with comparing last summer’s trade request to this year’s potential request for Batherson is that the Penguins were looking to the future with their requests, whereas the Senators would probably prefer roster players who can help them win now. This would not be an easy trade to facilitate.

There are many other factors at play as well. If Ottawa trades Batherson, it creates an offensive hole for a team that already needs more offense up front and shifts their hunt from potentially needing two top-nine forwards to needing three. Given the thin free-agent market and their poor farm system, Ottawa might find their options limited when it comes to upgrading their forward group, even if they hold onto Batherson.

Then there is the fact that Batherson is a homegrown talent, having been drafted by the Senators in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft (121st overall). He is clearly loved by the franchise, which was quick to shoot down trade rumours last spring when they emerged in the media. Ottawa has historically had issues hanging onto homegrown talent and has watched many players move on and win in other cities. That may be a consideration if and when both sides begin talks on a contract extension.

Couple the Batherson conundrum with the drama surrounding captain Brady Tkachuk and goaltender Linus Ullmark, and you have the makings of a wild offseason in Ottawa as the team tries to move on from a difficult season. Batherson’s next contract will likely not age gracefully, particularly as he approaches his mid-30s, but the Senators might not have a choice but to extend him as they try to find some success with their current core group of players.