The Senators and Drake Batherson have been talking extension for a while now, and according to TSN's insiders, they still haven't closed the gap. TSN1200's JR and Hammer broke down where things stand on the number that's been floating around: could Batherson actually become a $10 million player in Ottawa?
Here's why the number is so big. Batherson is playing out the final year of a deal that pays him just $4.975 million, a bargain that's looked better every season he's been in the league. He's coming off a 33-goal, 71-point year in 2025-26, second on the team behind Tim Stutzle, and he led all Senators in playoff scoring during their first-round exit. That's a lot of production for under $5 million, and everyone in the building knows it.
The problem is the open market. League executives reportedly peg Batherson's price at $10 million to $11 million a year if he hits unrestricted free agency next summer, which would blow past Stutzle's $8.35 million, currently the biggest number on Ottawa's books. Recent comps aren't helping the Senators' cause either, with wingers like Alex Tuch ($10.5 million) and Pavel Dorofeyev ($11 million) setting a new market for that tier of player.
It's not that Batherson wants out. He's talked about Ottawa like a guy who's put down roots, saying it feels like home after almost a decade in the city. But feeling at home and agreeing on a number are two different negotiations, and the Senators front office knows that every week without a signature is a week the price tag climbs.
For a franchise trying to build real contention around Stutzle and its young core, locking up a proven 30-goal winger matters, but so does cap flexibility. If Ottawa can't get something done before camp, this turns into a full-blown storyline all season, with Batherson skating toward a payday no matter which sweater he's wearing when he gets it.