OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators announced today that the team has agreed to terms with forward Drake Batherson on a six-year, $29.85M contract. The contract has an average annual value of $4.975 million and includes the following breakdown: $2.5M in 2021-22, $3.5M in 2022-23, $5.4M in 2023-24, $5.4M in 2024-25, $6.5M in 2025-26 and $6.55M in 2026-27.

Batherson, 23, spent the entirety of the season in the NHL for the first time in 2020-21 and ranked fourth among Senators in scoring with 34 points (17 goals, 17 assists) while accruing eight penalty minutes and skating in each of the team's 56 regular-season games. His 17 goals tied for the club's second highest total.

"Drake represents an integral component of our future at forward," said Senators general manager Pierre Dorion. "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."