Senators sign Drake Batherson to eight-year contract extension

Batherson and the Senators agreed to terms on an eight-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday. It is the largest contract in franchise history and comes with an average annual value of $10.5 million.

“Drake exemplifies what it is to be an Ottawa Senator,” said GM Steve Staios in a statement provided by the team. “He was drafted and developed by our organization and has shown a commitment to wanting to be in Ottawa long term. We view him as a key part of our core group.”

The deal comes before the new CBA between the NHL and NHLPA kicks in on Wednesday, which lowers the maximum term on a contract to seven years for a re-signing player and six years for a player changing teams in free agency.

Batherson’s new extension will begin in the 2027-28 season after his current six-year, $29.85-million deal expires. This new contract will expire after the 2034-35 season, when Batherson is 37 years old.

Batherson has been steadily improving his offence each year, and last season he scored a career-high 33 goals and 71 points, his seventh consecutive points increase. With former captain Brady Tkachuk traded to the Panthers, the forward will be one of the players counted on to be a leader as the Senators look to build on back-to-back trips to the playoffs.

Batherson has 364 points in 470 regular-season games and ranks 10th on the Senators’ all-time scoring list.

–with files from The Canadian Press