There has been a mutual desire between the Senators and pending UFA winger Drake Batherson to get an extension done although there’s still a gap to work through money-wise. While September 15th is viewed as a logical deadline as it’s the final day an eight-year deal can be signed, Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch points out a second potential deadline. He relays that the expectation is that if a deal isn’t in place by the time Ottawa’s season begins on October 3rd, the winger will then test the open market next summer. Batherson is coming off his best season offensively, one that saw him score 33 goals and 38 assists in 79 games. His camp is believed to be seeking a double-digit AAV on his next contract, a price tag it doesn’t appear that the Senators are willing to get to just yet.
More from the Atlantic:
Canadiens prospect Yevgeni Volokhin has signed a new three-year deal with KHL Spartak, per a team release. The contract runs through 2028-29 with the two sides ripping up his existing pact which had two seasons left on it. Montreal drafted the netminder in the fifth round back in 2023. He was the VHL’s top goalie last season, posting a 1.51 GAA along with a .948 SV% and nine shutouts in 40 games but it didn’t yield much playing time with Spartak as Volokhin played in just four games with them. With there being no transfer agreement between the NHL and the Russian hockey federation, there is no deadline for the Canadiens to sign Volokhin.
While Lightning prospect Noah Steen is about to begin his first full professional season in North America, he still has his old team in the back of his mind. In a video posted on SHL Orebro’s site, the 22-year-old opened the door to returning there down the road. This season, in the first year of a two-year deal, Steen should play exclusively with Syracuse but could play his way into recall consideration as the season goes on. He had 22 points in 52 SHL appearances last season and added seven goals for Norway in 10 games at the Worlds.