Team Canada Gold Medalist & NHL Star Emerges Unexpectedly on the Trade Block

The Ottawa Senators are prepared to shop winger Drake Batherson as they look for a top-six forward upgrade, according to the Ottawa Citizen's Bruce Garrioch.

While Batherson's name surfaced at the trade deadline, it was as much a case of teams inquiring as it was the Senators shopping him.

Senators GM Steve Staios has already made a big splash by making the deadline trade of Joshua Norris for Dylan Cozens.

With Ottawa's offense being only 18th in the NHL in 2024-25, Staios appears ready to get even bolder with the team making a push for back-to-back playoff appearances, something they hadn't accomplished since 2012-13.

A fourth-round pick in 2017, Batherson had become a pillar of the lineup by the 2020-21 season. The propeller-headed right winger stands 6'3", 200 lbs.

He has been a model of health and dependability, appearing in all 82 games each of the last three seasons. In those seasons, he's scored 22 to 28 goals and 62 to 68 points annually, with an 18-19 minute ice time average.

Now 27 years old, Batherson is regarded as a consistent but capped player, roughly a 25-goal, 65-point player.

With only Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk capable of playing at a higher level, it's no wonder Ottawa would be seeking a more upside-oriented winger.

Dealing Batherson, however, is a gamble. His $4.975 million cap value to 2026-27 is a bargain for his production, especially for a club that is not very cap-flexible.