The Montreal Canadiens have spent months hunting for a true top-line winger capable of elevating their young core. A new name has now entered the conversation—one that could reshape the Atlantic Division rivalry and force the Ottawa Senators into an uncomfortable decision.
Drake Batherson is that name.
The 28-year-old Senators forward has been eligible to negotiate a contract extension since July 1, yet he and Ottawa remain nowhere close to common ground. According to reporter Marco D’Amico, the Canadiens are prepared to step in aggressively if the Senators hesitate.
“What’s going to happen with Drake Batherson in Ottawa?” D’Amico said. “He wants $10 million to $11 million. If Ottawa doesn’t want to give it to him, I can tell you the Montreal Canadiens probably will. He’s a player who would make sense.”
That projected price tag—$10 million to $11 million annually over eight years—would produce a total commitment in the $80 million to $88 million range, the kind of long-term, high-value deal that defines a franchise cornerstone. Batherson is currently in the final season of a six-year contract that pays him just under $5 million annually. After a career-best 71-point campaign that included 33 goals in 79 games, the production supports the raise he is seeking.
For the Canadiens, the fit is intriguing on multiple levels. Montreal’s roster still lacks a proven, high-volume scoring winger who can complement the emerging talent already in place. Batherson’s combination of size, shot, and playmaking offers exactly the type of secondary scoring punch and net-front presence the organization has been searching for. General manager Kent Hughes has shown a willingness to spend when the right opportunity appears; a player of Batherson’s caliber reaching unrestricted free agency would almost certainly trigger serious internal discussions.
Ottawa’s situation is more complicated. The Senators already watched captain Brady Tkachuk depart in a blockbuster move. General manager Steve Staios has made clear he has little interest in seeing another core piece walk away for nothing. Batherson has been a reliable offensive contributor and a familiar face in the dressing room. Allowing him to test the market would represent another significant loss of continuity at a time when the franchise is trying to stabilize and contend.
There is still no guarantee the scenario unfolds this way. Negotiations between Batherson’s camp and the Senators could accelerate, or Ottawa could ultimately meet the asking price to keep him in the fold. But the longer the stalemate continues, the more real the possibility becomes that Batherson hits free agency next summer—and that the Canadiens will be waiting with an open checkbook.
In a division where every point and every roster upgrade carries outsized weight, the mere possibility of Batherson in a Canadiens sweater is enough to raise eyebrows in both cities. Kent Hughes and the Montreal front office appear ready to turn that possibility into a blockbuster reality if Ottawa cannot close the deal.