MTPS: The Batherson Business

The Ottawa Senators appear to be in a bit of a sticky wicket when it comes to the future of forward Drake Batherson. The New York Rangers should make it their business to monitor that situation and turn it to their own advantage.

According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen, Batherson and the Senators are not close to a resolution on the player's next contract. Batherson, 28, is seeking an eight-year deal while Ottawa is, apparently, not. Complicating matters is there's a ticking clock on this. Per the current collective bargaining agreement, September 15, 2026, is the last date by which players may sign contracts of eight years to remain with their current teams. After Sept. 15, the max term for a player staying with his team drops to seven years, while a player signing with a new team has a six year max term. Delightful.

So Batherson's motivation for getting a deal done in the next few weeks is clear. He will be 29 when the season ends, and he would rather sign for eight years now instead of seven (or even six) years next July. Similarly, Ottawa's motivations are clear. Batherson is 29, he would be 37 when an eight-year contract wraps up, and 36 when a seven year deal concludes. Math like that is pretty easy.

So, what makes this sticky? Well, if Ottawa doesn't give Batherson the extension that he wants, Batherson may not take the extension that Ottawa wants to offer. The Senators just lost their captain, Brady Tkachuk, this summer and, frankly, losing Tkachuk and Batherson in back-to-back years is a bad look for a franchise that has dealt with its fair share of bad looks.

That being said, if they're at an impasse, Ottawa has to deal him. They can't allow Batherson to walk for nothing—he's too young, and too good. That means a trade. And if a trade is going to happen, I'm sure Batherson and his team would prefer it happen quickly so he can try to lock up an eight-year contract with his new team.

At the same time, Ottawa was in the playoffs last year and likely wants to go back there again. So trading one of their better players is probably not their first choice. But if they don't trade him, and if they cost Batherson his shot at an eight-year extension, resentment could (and likely will) build. That can hurt a locker room and, as we saw from the Trouba/Kreider kerfuluffle, a hurt locker room can derail a season, tout de suite.

Thus, sticky. Sticky as Winnie the Pooh's honey pot if you will.

So, how can we de-stickify this situation? Enter the New York Rangers.

But, before we get into what the Rangers could give up for Batherson, we first must ask the question, should they give up anything at all?