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Drake Batherson

Drake Batherson Removed From COVID Protocol

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Finally, the Ottawa Senators have no one left in the COVID protocol. Drake Batherson was officially activated this morning, giving the team their full complement of non-injured players for the first time in nearly a month.

Batherson in particular hasn’t played since November 13, a game in which he scored four points to lift the Senators over the Pittsburgh Penguins. In fact, the 23-year-old forward has been one of the few bright spots in Ottawa this season and still leads the team in scoring (by three points) despite missing the last two weeks.

His return should help the team right away, but things are rolling right off the tracks in Ottawa lately. The team has lost five in a row, allowing at least four goals in each game and being outscored 25-10 overall. They’ll get a chance to right the ship tomorrow night against the reeling Vancouver Canucks, who have been battling for the label of worst circus in Canada over the past few weeks as well.

It’s important to get Batherson back on the ice and contributing, given the long-term contract he signed this offseason. Inking a six-year, $29.85MM contract is no small feat for a team like Ottawa that works under an internal budget, and it actually made him the team’s highest-paid forward until Brady Tkachuk finally signed his own RFA deal. We’ll have to wait and see if Batherson is ready to contribute at the same high level right away, but getting him out of the protocol and back on the active roster is a positive step.

Atlantic Notes: Senators, Jokiharju, Allen

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Although the Senators will be able to return to the ice on Saturday to practice, they still won’t have their full squad available.  Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch reports that while eight of the players that were in COVID protocol will have cleared (along with associate coach Jack Capuano) winger Drake Batherson and defenseman Nikita Zaitsev (who exited protocol last Saturday only to be re-added later in the day) will remain unavailable for the time being.  If all goes according to plan, Ottawa should be able to get back to action on Monday in Colorado with Batherson and Zaitsev being available to rejoin the team partway during their West Coast road trip.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic:

  • Sabres defenseman Henri Jokiharju should be ready to return next week after missing more than a month due to a lower-body injury sustained in the season-opener, notes Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News (Twitter link). The 22-year-old logged over 18 minutes a game last season with Buffalo, earning himself a three-year, $7.5MM contract as a first-time restricted free agent back in September that solidifies him as part of their longer-term rebuilding plans.  Jokiharju skated at practice today but head coach Don Granato indicated that the blueliner needs more practice time.
  • While the Canadiens were hoping that Jake Allen would be able to return from his concussion on Saturday against Nashville, that isn’t expected to happen, relays TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie (Twitter link). The netminder was injured last Saturday against Detroit and Montreal has lost all three games since then, allowing 14 goals in that stretch.

Ottawa Senators Place Drake Batherson In COVID-19 Protocol

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Per the team’s communications department, the Ottawa Senators placed forward Drake Batherson in the NHL’s COVID-19 Protocol on Sunday.

Batherson becomes the fifth Sens forward and tenth Sens player overall now listed as non-roster due to COVID-19. It’s a tough loss for an already depleted Senators team, as Batherson leads them in scoring with 16 points in just 14 games.

Andrew Agozzino is the team’s only extra healthy forward on the active roster, and he’ll make his season debut for Ottawa Sunday afternoon against the Calgary Flames. Ottawa is now down to just five forwards in AHL Belleville under active contract, but they have three other forwards on loan who could theoretically be recalled to the team in an emergency.

Depending on how head coach D.J. Smith shuffles the team’s lines on Sunday, offseason acquisition Zach Sanford could get a look in the top-six in place of Batherson. Sanford has just three points in 14 games and hasn’t quite been what Senators fans had hoped.

They’ll need increased minutes and performance from Joshua Norris and new captain Brady Tkachuk to help the team stay afloat.

Snapshots: Three Stars, Corrado, McIntyre

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Earlier today, the NHL released the Three Stars for last week, headlined by Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom. The veteran netminder posted an incredible .989 save percentage in three appearances, allowing just one goal on 94 shots. That included a 45-save shutout against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and gave him the league lead in clean sheets and a .957 save percentage overall.

The second and third stars went to Drake Batherson of the Ottawa Senators and Alex Killorn of the Tampa Bay Lightning respectively, who each posted six points on the week. Batherson’s came in just two contests and included a four-point effort against the Washington Capitals which marked his first career hat trick. The 23-year-old forward is a huge part of what’s building in Ottawa and now has 61 points in 106 career games.

  • Minor league journeyman Frank Corrado is looking for a new place to play after his KHL contract with Dinamo Riga was terminated. Corrado is in only his second season overseas after suiting up for the Chicago Wolves, Utica Comets, Toronto Marlies, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Belleville Senators, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Pittsburgh Penguins in previous years. Still just 28, he likely could still land a job in the AHL if he is deciding to come back to North America.
  • Zane McIntyre, who posted a .917 save percentage in the AHL last season and actually has eight NHL games under his belt, signed a professional tryout with the Tucson Roadrunners. The Roadrunners lost Ivan Prosvetov to the Arizona Coyotes last week, recalled because of the injury to Carter Hutton. McIntyre has plenty of minor league experience, including an All-Star selection last season.

Brady Tkachuk To Make Season Debut On Thursday

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Winger Brady Tkachuk will make his season debut for the Ottawa Senators on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, Senators head coach D.J. Smith confirms.

The Senators have a three-day break ahead of them after playing three games in four nights to open the season. Without their best forward in the lineup, the team impressed, starting the season off 2-1-0.

Tkachuk’s season debut will come at home after appearing in street clothes during the team’s season opener last Thursday at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs to a standing ovation. The Senators signed Tkachuk to a seven-year, $57.5MM contract earlier on that Thursday.

He’ll undoubtedly get slotted on the team’s first line in his return, reuniting as a trio with Josh Norris and Drake Batherson. That line impressed all last season in its first year of existence, seeing its members score 17 goals apiece and at least 30 points apiece in a shortened 56-game season.

The team has risen to its 2-1-0 start largely due to the impressive play of Anton Forsberg and Filip Gustavsson in the net. Despite that record, the Senators have scored only seven goals in their first three games, averaging 2.33 per contest. Tkachuk’s infusion into the lineup and the depth advantage that it provides will undoubtedly go a long way towards boosting those numbers.

Training Camp Notes: Kane, Toews, Senators

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Today marked the first day of training camp for the majority of teams across the league. With the first preseason tilt just two days away now, teams are getting fired up and ready to go see at what level players in their organization are able to perform. One team whose offseason led to much fanfare was the Chicago Blackhawks, and the health status of both of their stars were hot topics of discussion today. NBC Sports Chicago’s Charlie Roumeliotis reports that a nagging injury to star winger Patrick Kane, an undisclosed matter that had appeared before the start of the Edmonton bubble in 2020, hasn’t healed completely. However, neither Kane nor others in the organization are concerned about his ability to play through the matter, as Kane himself remarked today that he’s “optimistic with where [he’s] going.” A great sense of mysteriousness still veils whatever the nagging issue is, as the nature of the injury has yet to be reported.

More notes from today’s opening of training camps:

  • After missing the entirety of 2020-21 due to Chronic Immune Response Syndrome, it was reported earlier in the offseason that Chicago Blackhawks Jonathan Toews was expected to return to play this year. Roumeliotis reports that after summer workouts, Toews rejoined the team today for his first formal practice since 2020. It would be a huge add for Chicago to get their captain back into the fold after an offseason that saw them forge a deeper team throughout. While Toews’ practice today went well, he hopes for but won’t guarantee an opening night appearance when their season opens in Colorado on Wednesday, October 13.
  • The contract negotiation saga of Brady Tkachuk has largely been an arduous, open-to-the-public process that continues to plant nervousness in Senators fans. It’s come to a head in recent days, as training camp has now begun without Ottawa’s best forward in the fold. The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports that in his absence, they’ve kept the other two-thirds of his line together in Josh Norris and Drake Batherson. While it’s anybody’s guess on who could fill that role during play if Tkachuk misses the start of the season, head coach D.J. Smith used forward Nick Paul in that first-line left-wing role today. Potentially a sign of things to come, it’s still anything but a guarantee.

Ottawa Senators Sign Drake Batherson

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The Ottawa Senators have locked up one of their young forwards, signing Drake Batherson to a six-year contract. The deal will carry an average annual value of $4.975MM, and keeps Batherson under contract through the 2026-27 season. The full breakdown is as follows:

  • 2021-22: $2.5MM
  • 2022-23: $3.5MM
  • 2023-24: $5.4MM
  • 2024-25: $5.4MM
  • 2025-26: $6.5MM
  • 2026-27: $6.55MM

Included in the Senators press release is a statement from general manager Pierre Dorion:

Drake represents an integral component of our future at forward. Dating to his first pro season, he has steadily progressed to the point where he is now widely recognized as a bonafide top line NHL winger. He possesses a strong ability to play at both ends of the ice, is a key powerplay contributor and someone we expect to be a prominent player for us for several years to come.

Widely recognized may not be entirely accurate as the Senators haven’t generated a ton of attention over the last few years, but there’s no doubt that Batherson was one of the team’s brightest stars this season. The 23-year-old forward scored 17 goals and 34 points in 56 games, showing that the outstanding offensive play he has produced at the AHL level could translate to the NHL.

Originally selected in the fourth round in 2017, Batherson has done nothing but score since he pulled on a Senators sweater. In 2018-19, during his first professional season, he registered 62 points in 59 games for the Belleville Senators and earned himself 20 NHL contests. In 2019-20 he put up 54 points in 44 AHL games while playing another 23 games with Ottawa. This year it was all the NHL, as he suited up for every game and finished just two points behind Brady Tkachuk for the team lead.

For fans of junior hockey, Batherson’s rise to the top of the Senators lineup won’t be surprising. Despite not competing much internationally as a young player, in 2017 he made the Canadian World Junior roster after an outstanding start to his QMJHL season and ended up scoring seven goals in seven games to help take home the gold medal.

He’s now getting rewarded with a healthy contract that buys out two unrestricted free agent years and keeps Batherson in Ottawa through his prime. As the team turns the corner on their rebuild and starts contending for a playoff spot, it will be young, homegrown forwards that lead the way. This deal takes him just ahead of Colin White to make Batherson the highest-paid forward on the team, though that will not likely last very long. Tkachuk still needs a contract of his own, and given the speculation about an eight-year deal, will certainly come in ahead of this $4.975MM AAV.

Normally contracts of this length come with plenty of risks, but for the Senators, who aren’t in the same zipcode as the cap ceiling, it doesn’t pose much of a threat. Sure, the team doesn’t really have the financial power to pay players more than what they’re worth, but betting on Batherson’s development is a worthwhile gamble at this point. Should he continue to improve, there’s a good chance he’s providing surplus value for several years of the contract as he grows into his own as a top-six player in the NHL. The Senators are still under the cap floor for the time being, though Tkachuk’s deal will soon fix that issue.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Atlantic Notes: Batherson, Del Zotto, Hinostroza

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Two years ago, the Senators thought they were buying low on the prime years of Colin White’s career when they handed him a six-year, $28.5MM contract.  That hasn’t panned out particularly well so far but even so, Ian Mendes of The Athletic suggests (subscription link) that Ottawa could look to go down that road again, this time with winger Drake Batherson.  The restricted free agent had a 17-goal, 17-assist performance last season and is someone that they project as a future 20-goal player.  Locking him up now at a bit of a discount – he has just 99 career NHL games played which limits his negotiating leverage – could come in handy down the road as some of their upcoming top youngsters move off their entry-level deals into pricier second contracts.  That type of long-term cap planning will be needed for the Sens to keep as much of their future core together as possible.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic:

  • Still with Ottawa, Michael Del Zotto’s two-year, $4MM contract with the Senators may have come as a surprise considering he had to earn a deal last season through the PTO route but the veteran told Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch that there were four or five other offers on the table. The 31-year-old blueliner had 13 points in 53 games last season but is a bit of a curious fit in Ottawa with the acquisition of Nick Holden and the presence of young blueliners Erik Brannstrom and Victor Mete who are lefties like Del Zotto.  Clearly, GM Pierre Dorion believes there’s a fit and with that many teams showing interest which certainly would have bolstered his market, Del Zotto got a bigger deal than expected.
  • The Sabres have been quiet in free agency so far with the biggest contract handed out being a one-year, $1.05MM deal for winger Vinnie Hinostroza. The 27-year-old told Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News that his history with Buffalo head coach Don Granato played a big role in his decision to sign there.  Hinostroza had 25 points in 50 games with Chicago back in 2017-18 when Granato was an assistant coach before being moved in the 2018 summer to Arizona.  He finished up on a high note last year after rejoining Chicago, notching a dozen points in 17 games.

Free Agent Focus: Ottawa Senators

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Free agency is now just under a month away and many teams are already looking ahead to when it opens up.  There will be several prominent players set to hit the open market in late July while many teams have key restricted free agents to re-sign as well. The Senators have some juicy extensions lined up this offseason with a couple of important restricted free agents to sign to deals.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Brady Tkachuk – Three seasons into his NHL career, the younger Tkachuk has found his way into the hearts of Sens fans with his gritty, power-forward-esque style of play. He’s been on pace for at least 20 goals and 40 points in every full season, establishing a remarkable amount of consistency throughout his young career. Don’t let his not-necessarily elite point production fool you, though. Tkachuk’s finishing ability leaves a lot to be desired, but that only means that his offensive chance generation is more than his point totals would suggest. Considering Tkachuk’s impact on the rebuilding team in such a short amount of time, it makes sense that Ottawa will want to extend him long-term. That’ll likely happen, as Tkachuk’s a player who’ll likely be affordable over the course of a long-term extension.

F Drake Batherson – A former fourth-round pick of the Sens, Batherson was a huge breakout star this season in Ottawa. 17 goals and 34 points in 56 games as a 22-year-old with not too much help stands out as someone who has quite a bit of potential. Playing legitimate top-six minutes against tougher competition, Batherson was also a great power-play threat. He looked like one of the players who fit in the most on this Ottawa team, and he’s likely to be around for a very long time. However, with only one true season showing what he can do under his belt, a cheap bridge deal is the likely outcome for Batherson. He still has multiple seasons left of RFA eligibility, so Ottawa should easily be able to lock him down long-term once his next deal is complete.

Other RFAs: F Michael Amadio, F Logan Brown, F Vitaly Abramov, F J.C. Beaudin, F Jack Kopacka, F Jonathan Davidsson, F Zachary Magwood, D Victor Mete, D Brandon Fortunato, D Olle Alsing, G Marcus Hogberg, G Filip Gustavsson

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Ryan Dzingel – After being in and out of the Senators organization, Dzingel had his worst season as an NHLer in 2020-21. His 13 points in 40 games between Ottawa and Carolina this season were a far cry from the potential he showed with his 26-goal, 56-point season in 2018-19. Dzingel saw a heavy reduction in minutes this season as well, playing just 12:42 a night. Dzingel likely has huge bounce-back potential if given more opportunity, but he shouldn’t and won’t get that with Ottawa. Now 29, a Dzingel re-signing would make little sense for Ottawa given the youth movement they’ve built up, with its success showing this season. Dzingel could find success elsewhere, but Ottawa shouldn’t beat themselves up too much if they let him go.

F Artem Anisimov – Brought in via trade to be an experienced veteran at their paper-thin center position, Anisimov’s done his job as a Senator. He’s actually produced at a fairly decent pace, especially considering his age and declining health. His 29 points over 68 games are definitely acceptable, especially for a player who was largely utilized in a fourth-line role. He showed he still had more left in the tank with 15 goals in 2019-20, but struggled more on the scoresheet this year. Anisimov likely has a bit more NHL hockey left in him, but he could also return home to Russia to finish out his career with a potential chance at a Gagarin Cup in the KHL.

Other UFAs: F Derek Stepan, F Micheal Haley, F Matthew Peca, D Cody Goloubef

Projected Cap Space

The Senators, predictably, have a large amount of cap space entering the offseason. Even with $28.5MM in room and a small list of players to re-sign, the Senators will likely stay true to their youth movement and corresponding rebuild this offseason. It’s unlikely that the team will be huge players on the free-agent market, but could still potentially use that cap space to acquire some assets by relieving cap-strapped teams of hefty contracts.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Contract information courtesy of CapFriendly.

North Notes: Tkachuk, Batherson, Sandin, Oilers, Danault

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Senators winger Brady Tkachuk is leaning towards declining an invitation to play for Team USA at the upcoming World Championships, suggests Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch.  While he would undoubtedly be a key player for them, he is a pending restricted free agent, something that he acknowledged could be a factor in him taking a pass if he goes that route:

I haven’t made a full decision yet but it’s always an honour to represent your country and play for the guys who paved the way and USA Hockey. We’ll have to see but it’s definitely a different set of circumstances here, especially with the things going on this summer.

Tkachuk isn’t the only one leaning towards taking a pass for that reason either as Garrioch adds that winger Drake Batherson is doubtful to suit up for Canada with his restricted free agency on the horizon.  While Tkachuk is expected to land a substantial raise this summer no matter what, Batherson’s case is a bit murkier as while he has played well this year with 33 points in 53 games, it’s his only full NHL season thus far.

More from the North Division:

  • Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin isn’t expected to play in Toronto’s remaining three games for salary cap reasons, notes Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. By moving him back to the taxi squad, they would create enough cap room in order to activate Riley Nash from LTIR, allowing him to potentially get a game or two in before the end of the regular season to get him ready for the playoffs.  Nash was ruled out for the rest of the year while in Columbus but Toronto’s schedule runs nearly a week longer as a result of the COVID-related postponements.
  • While the Oilers look to be set in second place in the North, don’t expect them to rest anyone down the stretch, relays Postmedia’s Rob Tychkowski. Instead, head coach Dave Tippett wants to try to create some momentum over their final four games, something that could be more difficult with players rotating in and out of the lineup.
  • Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme told reporters today, including Sportsnet’s Eric Engels (Twitter link), that center Phillip Danault has been diagnosed with a concussion. He had previously been listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.  He had already been ruled out for tonight’s game against Toronto but with that diagnosis, he will likely miss the final two games against Edmonton as well.

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