Batherson on Playoffs Next Year: "Anything Other Than That Would Be a Disappointment”

Senators winger Drake Batherson shares details about his off-season plans, some extra training time this summer with Sidney Crosby, and goals for next season

Drake Batherson has been with the Ottawa Senators now for parts of five seasons and, for a group as young as the Senators, that makes him a wily NHL veteran.

But if you add up his actual games played (227), Batherson’s actual on-ice NHL experience level is more in line with a third-year player like Tim Stutzle (210)

Before this year, Batherson had never played more than 56 games in an NHL season. The first two years were part-time work, getting sent to the minors a total of seven times. Year three was cut short by the pandemic, as it was for everyone. And then last season was pared in half by a high ankle sprain, right after Batherson was named to the NHL All-Star Game.

This was the first time Batherson actually played a full 82-game NHL season so, even though he didn't score at the pace he did last season (the return of Josh Norris should help with that this fall), it's also very possible he hasn't hit his prime. And, as he enters another off-season that arrived way too early, he’s focused on doing his part to help to get this young group to the playoffs.

For the moment, the next meaningful game is almost six months away. But when it comes to training and development, there's never much downtime. One of Batherson’s off-season plans is to experiment with a little extra muscle for the fall.

“I want to get maybe a little bit stronger,” Batherson said. “I usually play at 200 pounds and, you know, I'm six-foot-three. I might try to get to 205 by mid-summer and see how I'm feeling. That's something we talked about with the strength coaches here in Ottawa. Nothing too crazy. I mean, I felt pretty good, speed-wise, the last couple years. So maybe I’ll just try 205 by mid-summer and if I feel too heavy, I'll get back to 200.”

The ability to go hard and make bigger gains in the gym marks a shift from last year, which was more about rehab. This year, Batherson is fully over his high ankle sprain.

“At this point last year, I was still wanting to play more hockey, but at the same time trying to rehab my ankle,” Batherson said. “So I went over to the World Hockey Championships, just to get a few more games in. And then the summer was mostly spent rehabbing the ankle. But right now it's feeling 100% and feeling good. So no more excuses on the ankle. I'm ready to roll this summer. It's gonna be a great summer.”

Batherson is modest about his performance at last year’s Worlds. It was a little more than “getting a few games in.” Batherson finished second in tournament scoring and helped Canada to a silver medal. But the Worlds won’t be in the cards this summer. Hockey Canada opted last month to make every single player from its 2018 World Junior team ineligible for international play until further notice.

“I definitely would've been interested, but obviously with what happened with my World Junior team, we're not eligible to go this year because of the ongoing investigation. But if I ever get that opportunity to represent Team Canada again, I would absolutely go. I had an absolute blast, meeting new teammates, playing in different countries, it was awesome. Especially last year being in Finland, that was kind of cool going over to Europe."

So the off-season focus is all on training, which Batherson annually does out east with other NHL players you might have heard of like Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon and Brad Marchand. What’s different this year is that Crosby joins Batherson early on the playoff sidelines.

“Yeah, (Crosby) has made the playoffs 16 years in a row so it’s probably a little weird for him right now. I haven't talked to him yet. Obviously, it's probably a sore subject, so I'll just kinda let it slide. We both wish we were playing, but yeah, it’s gonna be a long summer, a good summer of training.”

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Every NHL off-season brings change but this summer is unique in Ottawa. Goalie Cam Talbot and defenceman Nick Holden have already been told they won’t be re-signed. There are decisions to be made on other free agents as well. And with a new owner to arrive soon, it’s hard to say whether GM Pierre Dorion or head coach D.J. Smith will return or not. Just like any other player, Batherson will just focus on things he can control.

“Yeah, any decisions that might be made are obviously above my pay grade. I have to worry about just coming to camp like I have the last few years in good shape and ready to play. But other than that, it's kind of outta your hands.

“I mean, even last year when we signed DeBrincat and Giroux, I found out on Twitter after my golf round. So I find out about things like everyone else does. So we'll see what happens. But it’s kind of a sad time here too. You don't know if you're ever gonna play with some guys again. I'm close with a lot of the guys who have expiring contracts.”

While ownership and team personnel may change, the goal for next season will not. After a six year absence, this team desperately wants to be back in the playoffs, and looks very much like a team that's finally on the rise and capable of getting there.

“We've been wanting to play in the playoffs for a long time,” Batherson said. “I know myself, it's my fifth year pro. I haven't played in a playoff game in six years since my last year of junior. I mean, you play the game to be in the playoffs and to bring that hype to the city.

“And that's what we wanna bring back here, like it used to be. And next year's a huge year for us. Obviously, we want to be in the playoffs. That's a given. I think anything other than that would be a disappointment.”