Senators’ Drake Batherson out two weeks with upper-body injury

A key member of the Ottawa Senators is slated to miss some time.

On Wednesday, it was revealed that forward Drake Batherson will be out of action for the next two weeks with an upper-body injury.

Batherson was seen leaving the team’s practice early on Tuesday. When speaking to the media afterward, head coach Travis Green mentioned that Batherson had pulled something, but he wasn’t sure when or where it happened.

If the timeline holds true, Batherson won’t play in any more games this preseason, but he might make it back in time to be in the lineup for when the Sens open up their regular season on Oct. 9 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Batherson hasn’t missed a game since the 2021-22 season.

Batherson’s name is added to a list of injury concerns for Ottawa as the preseason rolls on. Defenseman Tyler Kleven was hurt after crashing into the end boards against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, while defender Nick Jensen and Lars Eller didn’t start training camp on time. Both are now skating with the Sens on a regular basis.

Batherson has already had a little bit of an impact so far in the preseason. In the game against Toronto, Batherson dropped the gloves with Leafs blueliner Marshall Rifai after Rifai made a run at Ottawa forward Ridly Greig.

Batherson is coming off his best season in the NHL. In 2024-25, the 27-year-old potted 26 goals, posting career highs in assists (42) and points (68). His efforts helped the Senators earn their first Stanley Cup Playoff berth in eight years, falling to the rival Leafs in an exciting six-game series in the opening round.

Batherson is heading into the fifth year of his six-year contract that he signed with Ottawa in September 2021. The deal carries a cap hit of $4.975 million through the 2026-27 campaign.