By Field Level Media
Sep 15 (Field Level Media) - Forward Drake Batherson signed an eight-year contract extension with an annual average value of $10.75 million that runs through the 2034-35 season, the club announced Tuesday.
Batherson will play out his previous contract in the upcoming season, earning $4.975 million. His new deal will make him the highest-paid member of the Senators, both in total value -- $86 million -- and in annual average value, per Spotrac.
"Drake exemplifies what it is to be
an Ottawa Senator," said Steve Staios, the team's general manager and president of hockey operations. "He was drafted and developed by our organization and has shown a commitment to wanting to be in Ottawa long term. We view him as a key part of our core group."
The Senators selected Batherson, an Indiana native, in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Draft. He made his debut in the 2018-19 season, playing in 20 games.
Last season, the 28-year-old recorded a career-high 71 points in 79 games. His 33 goals also were a career high. He led the team in scoring in the playoffs with four points (three goals, one assist) in four games as the Senators were eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round.
Last season was the seventh straight in which he increased his point total, becoming only the second player in NHL history to accomplish that.
With 364 career points, he stands 10th on the franchise's all-time scoring list.
(--Field Level Media)
