Ottawa Senators sign forward Drake Batherson to six-year extension

The Ottawa Senators have signed forward Drake Batherson to a six-year contract extension, the club announced Friday.

The extension will pay the 23-year-old an AAV of $4.975-million and keep him with the club through the 2026-27 season.

“Drake represents an integral component of our future at forward,” said Senators general manager Pierre Dorion in a statement. “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. He possesses a strong ability to play at both ends of the ice, is a key powerplay contributor and someone we expect to be a prominent player for us for several years to come.”

Drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 draft, Batherson has appeared in 99 NHL games over the last three seasons scoring 23 goals and 53 points. Last year marked his first full season in Ottawa where he scored 17 goals and 34 points in 56 games.

The two seasons prior he also spent time in the AHL with the Belleville Senators where he scored 38 goals and 116 points in 103 games.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.