The Montreal Canadiens may have another major name to watch on the NHL trade market, and this one could create plenty of tension inside the Atlantic Division.
According to a recent report on The Starr & D’Amico Show, Marco D’Amico has indicated that Montreal could be interested in Drake Batherson if the Ottawa Senators are unable to sign the winger to a contract extension. That distinction matters: there is no indication that Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes and Senators GM Steve Staios are negotiating a Batherson trade right now. Instead, Montreal appears to be a team worth watching if Ottawa’s contract situation eventually forces the Senators to consider their options.
And Batherson would be no ordinary addition. The 28-year-old produced a career-best 33 goals, 38 assists and 71 points in 79 games last season, giving Montreal something it has repeatedly explored adding: another established, prime-age top-six offensive weapon.
For me, the fascinating part isn’t whether Montreal would want Batherson. Of course they should. The real question is whether Ottawa would ever trade him to Montreal.
Why Drake Batherson Would Be a Major Trade Target for the Montreal Canadiens
Batherson has steadily developed into one of the more productive right wingers in the NHL. His 71 points last season represented another career high, while his underlying numbers also strengthen the argument that his production isn’t simply the result of favorable percentages.
PuckPedia credited Batherson with a 56.0 expected-goal percentage, 55.0 Corsi percentage, and 2.11 points per 60 minutes in 2025-26. He has now accumulated 149 goals and 364 points through 470 NHL regular-season games.
That is precisely why I would be interested if I were Kent Hughes.
Montreal already has Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov forming the foundation of its offense. Adding a proven 30-goal winger such as Batherson would deepen the top six without forcing the Canadiens to wait for another prospect to develop.
Batherson also brings size at 6-foot-3 and plays a style that should translate well when games become tighter. His 2025-26 postseason performance is another encouraging data point: Batherson scored three goals and four points in four playoff games for Ottawa.
Drake Batherson Career NHL Stats
| Type | GP | G | A | P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 470 | 149 | 215 | 364 | -87 |
| Playoffs | 10 | 4 | 2 | 6 | -7 |
Drake Batherson’s Contract Could Decide Everything
The issue for the Ottawa Senators is no longer whether Batherson deserves a raise. It’s how large that raise becomes.
Batherson is entering the final season of a six-year contract carrying a $4.975 million cap hit and can become an unrestricted free agent following the 2026-27 season. Previous reporting has indicated that the two sides have not been close on an extension, with league executives estimating that Batherson could command somewhere around $10 million to $11 million annually if he reaches the open market. Adrian Kempe’s $10.625 million AAV has been identified as one of the comparables in the discussion.
There is an important counterpoint that shouldn’t be ignored.
Batherson has not publicly asked out of Ottawa. In fact, he told The Hockey News‘ Steve Warne earlier this offseason that Ottawa “feels like home” and expressed openness to signing another contract with the Senators.
That makes this much different from a disgruntled-player trade scenario. Ottawa’s first choice should still be keeping Batherson.
But every month without an extension increases the leverage held by the player.
My Canadiens Salary-Cap Calculation for a Batherson Trade
Here’s where the rumor becomes especially interesting.
PuckPedia currently projects the Montreal Canadiens at approximately $9.78 million in available 2026-27 cap space, although Montreal still has roster business to complete and carries potential performance bonuses.
Using Batherson’s current contract, the basic calculation looks like this:
In other words, Montreal could fit Batherson’s current salary without Ottawa retaining money, at least in a straight cap calculation.
The longer-term question is far more important.
PuckPedia projects Montreal with roughly $39.47 million of 2027-28 cap space under a projected $113.5 million ceiling, but that figure comes with only 12 players currently accounted for on the active roster. Montreal will have several other contracts to address, so that number shouldn’t be treated as $39 million of disposable money.
Still, Hughes has structured the Canadiens well enough that a Batherson extension in the $10 million-plus range is at least financially conceivable.
NHLTradeRumor.com Drake Batherson Trade Value Index
My trade-value model scores Batherson particularly high because of his production and current bargain contract. The major deduction comes from contractual control: any acquiring team would be getting only one guaranteed season unless an extension was part of the plan.
Important: This 81/100 score is my trade-value model based on production, age, contract value, contractual control and roster fit. It is not a reported valuation from the Canadiens, Senators, an NHL scout or Batherson’s representatives.
Would the Ottawa Senators Actually Trade Batherson to Montreal?
This is where I become skeptical.
If Ottawa reaches the point where it has to trade Batherson, there should be no shortage of teams calling. Sending a 30-goal, 70-point winger to an Atlantic Division rival would create additional risk for Steve Staios.
Imagine Batherson scoring 30-plus goals beside Montreal’s young core while the Senators see him multiple times every season. Ottawa would need to be convinced that Montreal’s offer was clearly superior to what it could receive elsewhere.
That divisional premium is why I believe the Canadiens would likely have to offer more than an equivalent Western Conference bidder.
Montreal certainly has the assets to enter the conversation. The Canadiens have their first-round selections in the coming drafts and a deep young organizational structure, while its own offseason analysis describes Hughes as having the flexibility and assets to pursue another top-six forward.
But there is a difference between having enough assets and being willing to meet Ottawa’s price.
My preference would be for Hughes to pursue Batherson aggressively only if Montreal gets a strong indication that an extension can be completed. Giving up premium futures for one season of Batherson would be unnecessarily risky. Acquiring him and locking him into Montreal’s competitive window would be an entirely different proposition.
What Happens Next With Drake Batherson and the Senators?
For now, the most likely outcome remains an Ottawa extension.
Batherson has said he likes Ottawa, the Senators have every reason to keep one of their best forwards, and trading him would simply create another hole in a lineup trying to remain competitive.
But that’s also what makes this rumor intriguing.
If September arrives, the season approaches, and there is still a substantial difference between the Ottawa Senators and Drake Batherson on money and term, teams around the NHL will have every reason to check in.
And if D’Amico’s information proves accurate, expect the Montreal Canadiens to be one of them.
For Canadiens fans, this is a name worth remembering. Batherson isn’t simply a theoretical fit. His age, production, current contract and Montreal’s competitive timeline make this one of the more logical potential targets to emerge this summer.
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