Senators linked to potential blockbuster trade with the Montreal Canadiens
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The Montreal Canadiens may have a division rival's top winger in their sights this offseason. Drake Batherson is entering the final year of his contract with the Ottawa Senators, and if the two sides can't find common ground, Montreal appears ready to make a move.
Batherson is coming off a career year, posting 33 goals, 38 assists and 71 points in 79 games last season.
He carries a modest $4.975 million cap hit, but his camp is reportedly seeking a deal in the range of $10 to $11 million annually, a number that would blow up Ottawa's current salary structure.
What Marco D'Amico Said
Hockey insider Marco D'Amico addressed the situation on The Starr & D'Amico Show, and didn't hold back on where he sees this heading.
What's going to happen with Drake Batherson in Ottawa? He wants 10 to 11 million. Well, if Ottawa doesn't want to give it to him, I could tell you the Montreal Canadiens probably will, right? That's a player that I could see making sense. Like, though that's the vision I have is that if you know the salary cap is going up like that, it's a no-brainer for me if you're the Ottawa Senators. So yeah, 10.5-11 million over 8 years sign it now before it's over.
Why Batherson Fits Montreal
The Canadiens already have Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov building the core of their offense.
Adding a proven 30-goal winger like Batherson would deepen the top six immediately rather than waiting on a prospect to develop.
At 6-foot-3, he brings size and physicality that should translate well as games tighten up in the playoffs.
There is no indication Kent Hughes and Ottawa GM Steve Staios are actively negotiating a trade right now.
Staios has said publicly he's still focused on locking Batherson up long-term. But if that gap stays wide as the season nears, Montreal is a team worth watching closely.
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