Senators Reportedly Nearing Massive Eight-Year Extension With Drake Batherson

The Ottawa Senators are reportedly ready to hand out a massive commitment, with Elliotte Friedman reporting the team is nearing an eight-year contract extension with forward Drake Batherson.

Eight years is the absolute maximum term you can give a guy in the NHL. That means Ottawa is essentially marrying Batherson until the end of the decade. It is the kind of deal that says you either deeply believe in your core or you are just completely exhausted by contract negotiations.

"Elliotte Friedman reported the news via Twitter, linking to a report that the Senators are 'nearing eight-year contract extension with Drake Batherson.'"

Batherson has established himself as a legitimate top-six fixture on the right wing for a franchise that desperately needs stability. When you find a guy who can consistently produce and actually wants to stay in Ottawa long-term, you do not let him hit the open market.

The Senators have been in a perpetual state of rebuilding for what feels like a generation. Every summer we hear about how this is the year they finally make some noise in the Atlantic Division, only for them to stumble out of the gate by November and turn into a lottery team.

Locking up Batherson is a clear signal that the front office believes this specific group of players is the answer. From a futures perspective, Ottawa is banking heavily on this core maturing into a legitimate playoff threat rather than just a fun team that plays spoiler in March.

Now we just wait for the actual dollar amount to leak. The Average Annual Value on this eight-year pact will dictate exactly how much financial gymnastics the Senators have to do to fill out the rest of their roster before the puck drops.