Senators ink Batherson to 6-year pact worth $29.85M

The Ottawa Senators have signed restricted free-agent forward Drake Batherson to a six-year deal with an average annual value of $4.975 million, the team announced Friday.

Batherson played his first full NHL season in 2020-21, putting up 34 points in 56 games, and his 17 goals were tied for the second-most on Ottawa's roster.

The 23-year-old right-winger suited up for the Sens during the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 campaigns as well, but he spent most of his time with the AHL's Belleville Senators.

"Drake represents an integral component of our future at forward," general manager Pierre Dorion said. "Dating to his first pro season, he has steadily progressed to the point where he is now widely recognized as a bonafide top-line NHL winger."

While attending the BioSteel fitness camp earlier this week, Batherson seemed confident a deal would get done before training camp.

"I'm looking forward to getting back to Ottawa, seeing all the guys, and just getting it going. It's going to be exciting for sure," he said Monday, according to the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch.

The Senators selected Batherson in the fourth round of the 2017 draft, and he has 53 career points in 99 NHL games.

Ottawa has a little bit more work to do on the restricted free-agent front, with Brady Tkachuk and Logan Brown still on the books.