Latest news with #DrakeBatherson
New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
What I'm hearing about Senators' 2025 first-round pick, Drake Batherson, Claude Giroux, more
ASHTON, Ont. — It didn't take long for Ottawa Senators majority owner Michael Andlauer to get down to brass tacks when speaking to the media on a sunny Friday morning. He wasted no time coming to the defence of Drake Batherson, who has been mired in trade rumours. Unprompted, Andlauer addressed a report from the Ottawa Citizen that said the team was listening to trade offers for Batherson. The 27-year-old scored 26 goals and 68 points in 82 games this past season and is about to enter the fifth year of a seven-year deal carrying a $4,975,000 annual cap hit. Batherson's name has emerged as a trade candidate as the Senators hope to improve their scoring. Ottawa's offence ranked 19th-best and second-worst in goals scored at five-on-five last year. But the Senators seem uninterested in moving their scoring winger, who finished the season as the team's second-best goal scorer and point-getter. 'We're at the (draft) combine and, apparently, we're trading Batherson?' Andlauer said at the Senators' annual charity golf tournament at the Canadian Golf & Country Club on Friday morning. 'You know, it's not right. Sometimes, you've just got to get your sources right. You can always validate it here. But it's not for me, or Steve (Staios). To me, it's all about the player. So now all of a sudden, this guy's seeing that and it's totally false.' Advertisement Sens general manager Steve Staios confirmed later that he had spoken to Batherson about the trade talk surrounding him, and that his winger appeared unconcerned. 'I know things get out there (that) are written, and you know that there's no truth to it,' Staios said. 'But when it was written on back-to-back days, I was informed that it was out there a couple of days in a row. I talked to our players often through the offseason anyway, but I just thought the timing was right to make sure that Drake knows that there's no truth to it.' Batherson's availability was among a handful of topics discussed by Andlauer and Staios on Friday, including a brief update on the Senators' future arena at LeBreton Flats. 'It's moving forward. I don't know at what pace,' Andlauer said. 'But we're not moving back. We'll just put it that way.' The Senators continue to discuss a potential new contract for forward Claude Giroux. Both Staios and Andlauer met with Giroux's agent Pat Brisson in Buffalo during the NHL draft combine in recent days. The 37-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent in July. He scored 15 goals and 50 points in 81 games this past season. AFP Analytics, a private sports analytics consulting firm, projected a two-year deal with a $5,172,280 annual average value for Giroux. 'We continue to talk,' Staios said. 'I think the dialogue is ongoing. You speak to the representative, you want to find what's what's fair. And it takes two sides. Staios was asked if the team tendered a contract offer to Giroux, but would only say both sides are continuing their 'dialogue.' 'I think we want to find some common ground.' Staios spoke similarly when asked about pending free agent Fabian Zetterlund, acquired at the trade deadline from the San Jose Sharks. He declined to discuss whether he's hoping to sign the Swedish forward to a short- or long-term deal. Advertisement 'Open to ideas on it, for sure,' Staios said. Staios opted for a short-term deal with defenceman Tyler Kleven at the beginning of the week, signing him to a two-year contract with a $1.6 million cap hit. He described the negotiations between him and Kleven's agent Craig Oster as 'smooth.' 'You go through the process, you talk to the agent,' Staios said. 'You find some comparables, and you're trying to find an even ground for both the player, be fair to the player, and also for the team. So, we're excited about Tyler. On a two-year deal, and he continues to develop. We're pleased with his development. I think, to his own admission, I think a bit of a slow start from last year. But certainly picked it up and played well in the playoffs as well.' Staios and the Senators also continue to monitor a developing free-agent pool, and Staios indicated he'd like to see his team have some more salary-cap flexibility. 'We'll take a look at everything,' Staios said. 'I think it's hard to tell, because a lot of these players might not make it to free agency and get re-signed by their teams. 'You're always trying to improve your team, and this is an opportunity to improve our team through the offseason and around the draft. But it's only one opportunity. I'll be prepared to do things. But you just don't want to force it. You want to make sure that it's right. So, we're going through that process.' The Senators currently have over $15 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia. The Athletic published its free-agent big board this week, led by Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner and Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett. Staios revealed 34-year-old defenceman Nick Jensen is recovering from a hip injury, but wouldn't get into specifics. Jensen played through his first season in Ottawa with Thomas Chabot as his partner, but was plagued by a lower-body injury for most of the second half of the season. Jensen told the media last month he was 'hopeful' to return in time for training camp this fall. Advertisement 'He's been doing very well,' Staios said. 'It is a period of time that he'll be out for. Not sure (how long). Knowing Nick in the way he's going to attack his rehab, can he expedite his return to play? Most likely with him. I don't really have a timeline on it. But (it's) certainly something that I think we were hoping that he (could get through). Once we revealed exactly what it was, we knew that it was something that needed to get taken care of. And full credit to him playing through what he did and to play at the level that he did.' A handful of defencemen could potentially hit the free-agent market next month, including Florida Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad, who told the media on Friday he hopes to re-sign in Florida. The Senators will keep their first-round pick for this month's upcoming draft, meaning they'll be forced to forfeit next year's first-round pick for their role in a 2022 nullified Evgenii Dadonov trade involving the Vegas Golden Knights. Andlauer told the media in April he was hoping for 'some kind of forgiveness' from league commissioner Gary Bettman and mentioned it again on Friday. 'Did I say I was hopeful?' Andlauer said. 'No, I think I said I was going to go on my knees and plead for forgiveness, is what I was going to say. Even though it was never on my watch and I'll keep reiterating that. Would I be hopeful? I would love it. At the end of the day, just be a good citizen and do what's right for our club, but do what's right for the NHL.' So, that leaves the Senators with the No. 21 pick in this month's draft and a handful of possibilities available. Staios said he's 'pretty much open to anything' when asked if he'd consider trading it, but the Senators seem intrigued about who they could draft. 'We're sitting at 21, and as we look at the list and watch the players that could potentially be there, we're growing more excited about the pick,' Staios said. The Athletic's draft gurus, Scott Wheeler and Corey Pronman, have projected defenceman Blake Fiddler, goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen and centre Jack Nesbitt to the Senators in recent mock drafts. Youngsters Malcolm Spence, Ben Kindel and Ivan Ryabkin are also possibilities. Senators head scout Don Boyd told The Athletic last month that their strategy is picking the 'best player available' when it's their turn. 'We feel that there will be a player, at least one and probably a few more, that could be picked in that area that are going to be NHL players,' Boyd said. (Top photo of Claude Giroux and Drake Batherson: Chris Tanouye / Freestyle Photography / Getty Images)
Fox Sports
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Maple Leafs aim to clinch first round series over the Senators in game 6
Associated Press Toronto Maple Leafs (52-26-4, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Ottawa Senators (45-30-7, in the Atlantic Division) Ottawa, Ontario; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Senators -119, Maple Leafs -101; over/under is 5.5 NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Maple Leafs lead series 3-2 BOTTOM LINE: The Toronto Maple Leafs look to clinch the first round of the NHL Playoffs over the Ottawa Senators in game six. The teams meet Tuesday for the ninth time this season. The Senators won the last meeting 4-0. Ottawa has gone 45-30-7 overall with a 16-12-3 record against the Atlantic Division. The Senators have gone 22-6-7 in games decided by a single goal. Toronto is 52-26-4 overall with a 20-9-2 record in Atlantic Division games. The Maple Leafs have scored 267 total goals (3.3 per game) to rank seventh in league play. TOP PERFORMERS: Jake Sanderson has 11 goals and 47 assists for the Senators. Drake Batherson has five goals and four assists over the past 10 games. William Nylander has 45 goals and 39 assists for the Maple Leafs. Matthew Knies has six goals and three assists over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Senators: 5-2-3, averaging 3.5 goals, six assists, 4.5 penalties and 10.3 penalty minutes while giving up 3.4 goals per game. Maple Leafs: 8-1-1, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.6 assists, 4.2 penalties and nine penalty minutes while giving up 1.9 goals per game. INJURIES: Senators: None listed. Maple Leafs: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. recommended
Associated Press
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Maple Leafs aim to clinch first round series over the Senators in game 6
Toronto Maple Leafs (52-26-4, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Ottawa Senators (45-30-7, in the Atlantic Division) Ottawa, Ontario; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Senators -119, Maple Leafs -101; over/under is 5.5 NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Maple Leafs lead series 3-2 BOTTOM LINE: The Toronto Maple Leafs look to clinch the first round of the NHL Playoffs over the Ottawa Senators in game six. The teams meet Tuesday for the ninth time this season. The Senators won the last meeting 4-0. Ottawa has gone 45-30-7 overall with a 16-12-3 record against the Atlantic Division. The Senators have gone 22-6-7 in games decided by a single goal. Toronto is 52-26-4 overall with a 20-9-2 record in Atlantic Division games. The Maple Leafs have scored 267 total goals (3.3 per game) to rank seventh in league play. TOP PERFORMERS: Jake Sanderson has 11 goals and 47 assists for the Senators. Drake Batherson has five goals and four assists over the past 10 games. William Nylander has 45 goals and 39 assists for the Maple Leafs. Matthew Knies has six goals and three assists over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Senators: 5-2-3, averaging 3.5 goals, six assists, 4.5 penalties and 10.3 penalty minutes while giving up 3.4 goals per game. Maple Leafs: 8-1-1, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.6 assists, 4.2 penalties and nine penalty minutes while giving up 1.9 goals per game. INJURIES: Senators: None listed. Maple Leafs: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Maple Leafs aim to clinch first round series over the Senators in game 6
Toronto Maple Leafs (52-26-4, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Ottawa Senators (45-30-7, in the Atlantic Division) Ottawa, Ontario; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Senators -119, Maple Leafs -101; over/under is 5.5 Advertisement NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Maple Leafs lead series 3-2 BOTTOM LINE: The Toronto Maple Leafs look to clinch the first round of the NHL Playoffs over the Ottawa Senators in game six. The teams meet Tuesday for the ninth time this season. The Senators won the last meeting 4-0. Ottawa has gone 45-30-7 overall with a 16-12-3 record against the Atlantic Division. The Senators have gone 22-6-7 in games decided by a single goal. Toronto is 52-26-4 overall with a 20-9-2 record in Atlantic Division games. The Maple Leafs have scored 267 total goals (3.3 per game) to rank seventh in league play. TOP PERFORMERS: Jake Sanderson has 11 goals and 47 assists for the Senators. Drake Batherson has five goals and four assists over the past 10 games. Advertisement William Nylander has 45 goals and 39 assists for the Maple Leafs. Matthew Knies has six goals and three assists over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Senators: 5-2-3, averaging 3.5 goals, six assists, 4.5 penalties and 10.3 penalty minutes while giving up 3.4 goals per game. Maple Leafs: 8-1-1, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.6 assists, 4.2 penalties and nine penalty minutes while giving up 1.9 goals per game. INJURIES: Senators: None listed. Maple Leafs: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Senators keep the Battle of Ontario alive with win over Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) makes a save against Ottawa Senators' Drake Batherson (19) during the second period of an NHL hockey playoff series in Toronto on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) TORONTO (AP) — Linus Ullmark made 29 saves for the first playoff shutout of his career as the Ottawa Senators edged the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0 on Tuesday night to cut the deficit in the teams' first-round series to 3-2. Thomas Chabot and Dylan Cozens gave the Senators a 2-0 lead before Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk added empty-net goals for Ottawa, which once again staved off elimination after picking up a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 4 at home Saturday. Tkachuk and Stutzle added two assists each for three-point performances. Advertisement Anthony Stolarz stopped 15 shots for the Leafs. Only four NHL teams have come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series — the 1942 Leafs, 1975 Islanders, the 2010 Flyers and the 2014 Kings. Game 6 is Thursday in Ottawa. HURRICANES 5, DEVILS 4, 20T RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sebastian Aho hammered a one-timer past Jacob Markstrom at 4:17 of the second overtime to help Carolina beat New Jersey to clinch their first-round playoff series. The score came with the Hurricanes on a four-minute power play on a double-minor high-sticking penalty by Dawson Mercer that sent Jesperi Kotkaniemi skating off to the tunnel with a towel to his face. Aho provided the capper, the only lead the Hurricanes would have in a wild game that pushed them into the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They'll next play the winner of the Montreal-Washington series, with the Capitals leading 3-1 in that one. Carolina won this game despite falling behind 3-0 in the first 10 minutes.
