Ottawa Senators still have to close a gap with Drake Batherson
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen: Garrioch writes that there is still a gap between the Ottawa Senators and forward Drake Batherson on what his next contract looks like. The clock is ticking: Batherson is eligible to sign an extension as of July 1st, but by September 15th, the Senators and Batherson will lose the ability to complete an eight-year deal. The player wants that, and the team wants to sign him.
Given the way the market has been set, Batherson could get somewhere between $10 million and $11 million on his next deal. It is a priority for Senators General Manager Steve Staios. He knows what Batherson means to Ottawa given the recent trade of Brady Tkachuk. If Batherson can record another 30-goal season, he will get a hefty raise from the $4.95 million he is currently making if he goes to market.
NHLRumors.com Note: The Ottawa Senators need to get this deal done with Drake Batherson. Again, once September 15th comes and goes, Batherson can only get a seven-year deal with Ottawa and six years if he goes to free agency.
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Even if he isn’t signed, they have time, but the Senators can’t let this become an Alex Tuch situation. If they know Batherson isn’t signed by the trade deadline, they may have to trade him and get assets. Tuch, Adrian Kempe, Kyle Connor, and Martin Necas set the market last offseason for what wingers like Batherson can get.
While there isn’t a concern per se, there should be urgency if the player truly wants an eight-year deal to get this done. Is Batherson one of those players that get a deal when training camp opens?
What’s the latest on Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins
Josh Yohe of The Athletic: Yohe looks at the upcoming contract extension for Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. In the summer of 2024, the rumours were nonstop about Crosby potentially getting traded and moving on from the Penguins. He eventually signed a two-year deal and has been eligible for an extension as of July 1st.
This year, the noise isn’t as strong because most people figure Crosby is a lifer in Pittsburgh. That should have been a realization even two years ago. And Crosby isn’t slowing down even at age 38. He still wants to play and could sign another deal with Pittsburgh. As Yohe notes, it could be done between now and mid-September.
He is open to working with GM Kyle Dubas to get a deal done.
NHLRumors.com Note: Everyone wants to see Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs. Pittsburgh made it last year and didn’t put up much of a fight against their rival, the Philadelphia Flyers. However, Crosby is still an all-time great and is producing a point per game this season.
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If the Penguins miss the playoffs or aren’t in contention by the trade deadline, that 2024 noise will reappear. At times that noise was ridiculous, but to be fair, the Penguins were a bad team, and nobody thought they would be back in the playoffs.
Remember, any new contract will contain a full no-movement clause, and Crosby will need approval if he were to be traded. Smart money says his AAV will be $8.7 million yet again. Given it is a lot quieter this year than last, Crosby will remain with the Penguins for life.
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