Drake Batherson provides encouraging reports about Josh Norris and Thomas Chabot As Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson prepares for his fifth season as a full-time NHL'er, he's given himself a rather tough act to follow. In 2023-24, Batherson posted career highs in goals (28) and points (66) and even knocked 26 points off his plus-minus. Batherson joined The Hockey News Ottawa [http://thn.com/ottawa] this week and reports that his summer training is going particularly well, thanks in part to a nice new home gym he christened this off-season. And, of course, he's got his summer skate with his buddies back home – just ordinary guys like Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon and Brad Marchand. But the usual all-star summer lineup had some big-name guests as well. "We started skating all together, I would say, the first week of July, and then going three times a week ever since," Batherson said. "And then other guys are kind of coming in and out. Jonathan Drouin was down for a bit. Adam Fantilli from Columbus is here right now. Some guys come in for a week at a time. Noah Dobson. Jordan Spence from the Kings. So it's fun. "I got Shane Pinto coming for the last couple of weeks before we head back to Ottawa. So again, excited for that." Batherson says he's also excited that some of his injured Senator teammates seem to be doing well this summer. Centre Josh Norris, coming off another shoulder surgery, is the player most Senator fans are concerned about, and Batherson says things are looking good. "We've probably had three FaceTime calls in the last couple of weeks, and we haven't even talked about his shoulder," Batherson said. "He's been just talking about skating and golf and stuff. So I don't even know if that's really a big question at this point. Compared to last year, I don't think he golfed all summer. So that's a good sign. He hasn't mentioned anything (about the shoulder) to me. And last year, he was. So, it's looking positive." After missing 31 games last season, Thomas Chabot also had off-season surgery (wrist), but it sounds like he's on a roll this summer. "Chabby looked great at his wedding," Batherson said. "His wrist looked awesome, and I know he's been skating almost every day. So I'm sure everyone will be at 100% and ready to get going." Batherson attended Chabot's wedding and was in the wedding party for Egor Sokolov's big day. Sokolov, who was traded to Utah earlier this summer, has been tight with Batherson since their junior hockey days. Some of Batherson's golf highlights have been a trip to Ireland, a Caribbean golf trip for Chabot's bachelor party, and the round of a lifetime earlier this month. "It was actually last Friday," Batherson said. "It was at a course in town called Glen Arbour. I was playing with Crosby, MacKinnon and one of their buddies. So yeah, it was my best score (minus 3). So it was a nice way to end the week." Batherson says he's excited about all of the changes the Senators have made. But the one hockey player acquisition that meant the most was seeing his sister, Mae, get selected by Minnesota in the PWHL Draft in June. "Yeah, it was really cool," Batherson said. "I mean, what I was most pumped about was we're going to an event for her. Most of the time, it was going to my draft or my first game or signing my new contract, it was kind of always about me. And it was just nice to get the family to go to Minnesota for her draft and have the spotlight on her. "And I was pretty nervous. I think I was almost more nervous for her draft than mine." Batherson says he'll be returning to Ottawa at the end of August to begin final camp preparations. The Sens' fantasy football draft is set for September 3rd, and main training camp begins in the fourth week of September. But is this the year the Sens get back to the playoffs? "Yeah, I hope so. I mean, I wish I had that answer so we could have figured it out seven years ago. But obviously, you look up and down our roster, we just got a goalie who won the Vezina two years ago and added some D, some older guys up front, and some leadership. "So I think the tools are there for sure. It's just a matter of coming together and coming out of the gates with a good start...and not looking too far ahead." Catch the full conversation with Drake Batherson on our Sens Podcast here [https://youtu.be/KGlStiBd3Es?si=Fip8hQUt2TxXFHeV]. For more Senators coverage, be sure to browse and bookmark The Hockey News' Ottawa Senators site [http://thn.com/ottawa].
