The Edmonton Oilers should absolutely call the Ottawa Senators about Drake Batherson, but they should not mistake a favourable 2026–27 cap hit for a simple trade opportunity.
There is currently no confirmed report that Edmonton and Ottawa are negotiating a Batherson trade. What has been reported is that a significant gap remains between the Senators and their leading scorer in contract discussions. That uncertainty matters because Batherson is entering the final season of a contract carrying a $4.975 million cap hit before becoming eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2027.
Batherson is also coming off the best offensive season of his career. The right winger produced 33 goals and 38 assists for 71 points in 79 games, giving Edmonton exactly the kind of size, finishing ability and top-six scoring it could use beside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl.
Here is the number that makes the possibility especially intriguing: the Oilers currently have approximately $4.726 million in projected cap space. On paper, Edmonton is only $249,166 short of absorbing Batherson’s entire contract.
My conclusion is straightforward. Edmonton should pursue Batherson only if it receives permission to discuss an extension and can complete the trade without surrendering one of its most important young players. As a long-term addition, Batherson could be worth an aggressive offer. As a one-season rental, the risk becomes much harder to justify.
Drake Batherson Career NHL Stats
| Type | GP | G | A | P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 470 | 149 | 215 | 364 | -87 |
| Playoffs | 10 | 4 | 2 | 6 | -7 |
Why Drake Batherson Is a Natural Edmonton Oilers Trade Target
Batherson checks several boxes Edmonton should be examining when searching for another impact winger. He is 6-foot-3, shoots right and has produced at least 62 points in four consecutive seasons.
His 2025–26 campaign was more than a fortunate shooting spike. Along with his 71 points, Batherson posted a 55 percent Corsi share and a 56 percent expected-goals share. His five-on-five production reached 2.11 points per 60 minutes, suggesting that he can generate offence without depending entirely on the power play.
Playing with McDavid or Draisaitl would give Batherson more opportunities to attack open space, finish plays around the net and use his size below the faceoff circles. Edmonton would not be acquiring a passenger who simply waits for an elite centre to manufacture offence. Batherson has already demonstrated that he can drive possession and create production within a top-six role.
| Category | Current Figure | What It Means for Edmonton |
|---|---|---|
| 2025–26 production | 33 goals, 38 assists, 71 points | Proven first-line scoring |
| Batherson cap hit | $4,975,000 | Strong one-year contract value |
| Oilers projected cap space | $4,725,834 | Only $249,166 short |
| Cap hit with 25% retained | $3,731,250 | Fits without additional cap clearing |
| Cap hit with 50% retained | $2,487,500 | Creates room for another addition |
The cap-space figures are projections and will change with roster transactions, injuries and assignments. Edmonton is also currently projected to carry a full 23-player roster, meaning a player would likely need to leave the roster even if the financial difference were covered.
The Drake Batherson Cap Math Is Not Edmonton’s Biggest Problem
Fitting Batherson’s existing contract would be relatively easy. Sending even a modest NHL salary to Ottawa, waiving a depth player or negotiating limited salary retention could create the necessary space.
The more difficult calculation concerns Batherson’s next contract.
Postmedia reporter Bruce Garrioch cited a league source who said Batherson’s representatives are likely using Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe as a comparable. Kempe signed an eight-year extension carrying a $10.625 million annual cap hit.
A $10 million Batherson extension would occupy approximately 8.8 percent of the projected $113.5 million salary cap in 2027–28. Kempe’s $10.625 million contract would represent approximately 9.4 percent of that same ceiling.
Those percentages are not automatically unreasonable for a 30-goal, 70-point winger. However, Edmonton must protect enough long-term flexibility to maintain its depth and handle future contracts elsewhere on the roster. Batherson at $4.975 million is a bargain. Batherson above $10 million becomes a much more complicated roster-building decision.
What Would the Ottawa Senators Demand?
Ottawa’s position makes this more challenging than a traditional rental acquisition. The Senators are not entering a rebuild, and Batherson led them in scoring last season. A package built entirely around distant draft selections would do little to replace his immediate offensive impact.
For this analysis, I created a basic 100-point trade-value model:
Production: 26/30Contract value: 23/25
Age and prime-year outlook: 11/15
Remaining team control: 6/15
Edmonton lineup fit: 12/15
Positional scarcity: 8/10 Total trade-value score: 86/100
That score identifies Batherson as a premium trade target, but the low team-control score reflects the danger of acquiring him without an extension.
My estimated asking price would begin with a first-round equivalent, an NHL-ready young forward and a conditional asset tied to Batherson signing a new contract. PuckPedia currently lists Edmonton without a 2027 first-round selection, so a 2028 first-round pick could become the starting point in any futures-based offer.
I would be reluctant to include Matt Savoie in a one-for-one framework. Edmonton needs inexpensive young contributors, and sacrificing a potential long-term top-six forward for one guaranteed season of Batherson would create unnecessary risk. Ottawa would either need to accept a broader package or add value of its own.
Why an Extension Must Be Part of Any Oilers Trade
Batherson has publicly indicated that Ottawa feels like home and that he would prefer to complete an extension. A gap in negotiations does not necessarily mean he has requested a trade or that the Senators are ready to move him.
That is why Edmonton should seek permission to speak with Batherson’s representatives before completing anything substantial. The Oilers need to know the approximate term, salary and trade protection required.
If Batherson is willing to sign for eight years at approximately $9.5 million to $10 million annually, Edmonton would at least have a predictable long-term asset. If his asking price moves closer to $11 million, the Oilers would need to determine whether that money is better divided among two useful forwards.
The hockey fit is excellent. The contract fit remains uncertain.
Should the Edmonton Oilers Make the Trade?
Yes, Edmonton should investigate—but only under controlled conditions.
Batherson would provide another legitimate scoring threat, improve the right side of the forward group, and give the Oilers a player who can contribute at even strength and on the power play. His current contract would also provide tremendous value for a team trying to win immediately.
However, Edmonton should walk away if Ottawa demands Savoie plus a first-round pick, if the Senators refuse to permit extension discussions or if Batherson’s next contract pushes too far beyond $10 million per season.
This is not yet a confirmed Oilers-Senators negotiation. It is a logical trade possibility created by a contract disagreement, Edmonton’s need for another dangerous winger and Batherson’s unusually affordable cap hit.
The Oilers should make the call. They simply cannot allow the excitement of adding a 33-goal winger to overshadow the long-term cost.
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The post Should the Edmonton Oilers Trade for Drake Batherson as Contract Talks Stall? appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
