The Ottawa Senators find themselves at a familiar crossroads as the NHL offseason rumour mill begins to churn, and a prominent name has once again surfaced: Drake Batherson. According to respected Senators insider Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, three league executives have singled out Batherson as a player to watch on the trade market. This isn’t the first time the 27-year-old winger’s name has been bandied about, with whispers of the Senators listening to offers circulating around the March NHL trade deadline. Now, as we head into the summer, the noise is getting louder.
The Inconsistency of the Drake Batherson Narrative
At the heart of these rumors is a supposed frustration within some corners of the Senators’ organization regarding Batherson’s consistency. While he put up a solid 26 goals and 66 points last season, the feeling is that his performance can be mercurial. However, to label a player who has consistently been one of Ottawa’s most productive forwards as “inconsistent” enough to trade him feels like a risky proposition.
Batherson is in the prime of his career and on a team-friendly contract with a $4.975 million average annual value for the next two seasons. In today’s cap-strapped NHL, that’s incredible value for a top-six forward who can flirt with 70 points. The idea of moving him to create a top-six spot for Fabian Zetterlund, while a nod to Zetterlund’s potential, seems premature. Zetterlund showed flashes after his acquisition, but he has yet to prove he can consistently produce at the level Batherson has.
My Take: A Perplexing Move for Cap Space
From where I’m sitting, trading Batherson to simply clear cap space without a clear, superior target in mind would be a perplexing and potentially franchise-altering mistake. If cap flexibility is the primary driver, the Senators have other, less impactful contracts they could explore moving. Batherson is more than just a name on a scoresheet; he’s a homegrown talent, drafted and developed by the organization, and a player who genuinely seems to love playing in Ottawa. That kind of loyalty and connection to the city is invaluable, especially for a team that has struggled to retain its stars in the past.
Moving a player of Batherson’s caliber and value should only be done if the return is a significant and undeniable upgrade. We’re talking about a player who can immediately step in and make your top-six demonstrably better, or a package of high-end assets that will secure the team’s future. Anything less would feel like a lateral move at best, and a significant step backward at worst. The Senators need to be building around players like Batherson, not shipping them out for a handful of question marks.
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