Drake Batherson: Salary, Injury, & Family Facts

Few things are more satisfying in hockey than watching a late-round pick grow into a core player, and Drake Batherson, selected 121st overall in 2017, has done exactly that for the Ottawa Senators. His six-year, $29.85 million contract and $4.975 million cap hit NHL.com (official team contracts page) prove his value, but injuries and questions about his background add layers to the story.

Position: Right winger ·
Team: Ottawa Senators ·
Birth date: April 27, 1998 ·
Height / Weight: 6′ 3″, 209 lbs ·
Shoots: Right ·
Drafted: 2017, 4th round (121st overall) by Ottawa Senators

Now that you have the headline numbers, let’s dig into the details that matter most for fans and fantasy owners.

Here is a quick-reference table of Drake Batherson’s key attributes.

How much does Drake Batherson make a year?

Let’s break down the numbers that matter most to fans tracking the Senators’ salary cap.

Drake Batherson’s current contract breakdown

Batherson signed a six-year, $29.85 million contract extension with Ottawa on September 3, 2021, carrying an average annual value (AAV) of $4.975 million The Stanley Cap (contract database). The deal, which runs through the 2027-28 season, replaced his entry-level contract signed October 3, 2017 The Stanley Cap (transaction log).

Annual salary and cap hit

His NHL salary is listed at $5.2 million for the current season, while the cap hit remains $4.975 million NHL.com (Senators contracts page). That cap figure makes him the 6th-highest paid forward on the Senators roster, a clear sign of the team’s investment in his development.

Why is Drake Batherson out?

Injuries have been a recurring theme, and the 2025 preseason brought a fresh concern.

Current injury update (2025)

During a preseason skate, Batherson “pulled something,” according to head coach Travis Green, who said he wasn’t sure exactly what happened The Hockey News (preseason coverage). Reports later clarified he had pulled a muscle in his upper body and would miss at least two weeks, putting his opening-night availability in doubt The Hockey News (injury report).

Expected recovery timeline

The team has not disclosed the exact nature of the injury, but the two-week timeline suggests a Grade 1 strain. Batherson also missed time in 2022 with an ankle injury, though he returned to play 82 games in 2023-24.

Is Drake Batherson related to Matt Minglewood?

The question pops up often because both are from Nova Scotia, but the answer requires a look at the facts.

Family connection to the musician

No direct evidence confirms a blood relation between Drake Batherson and the Cape Breton–born musician Matt Minglewood. Drake was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and raised in Upper Tantallon, Nova Scotia NHL.com (player profile). Matt Minglewood is a well-known Canadian rock musician from Cape Breton. The surname similarity appears to be coincidental.

Who is Drake Batherson’s father?

Hockey runs in the family, and his father’s background matters to understanding his career path.

Father’s background

Drake Batherson’s father is Norm Batherson, a former senior hockey player and coach The Stanley Cap (player biography). Norm played in the Maritime provinces and later coached, giving Drake early exposure to the game. While not a famous NHL name, Norm’s involvement in hockey clearly shaped his son’s development.

What is Drake Batherson’s nationality and background?

He holds dual citizenship, which affects international eligibility and personal identity.

American-born Canadian upbringing

Batherson was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, but grew up in Upper Tantallon, Nova Scotia. He holds both US and Canadian nationality NHL.com (player profile). He represented Canada at the 2018 World Junior Championship, winning a gold medal The Stanley Cap (career history).

Family background

His mother’s name is not publicly confirmed, but he has a sister. The family moved to Nova Scotia when Drake was young, and he played for the Saint John Sea Dogs in the QMJHL, where he won the QMJHL playoff MVP in 2018.

Who is Drake Batherson’s partner?

Relationship status with Sophie

Drake Batherson is in a relationship with Sophie (last name not publicly confirmed). No recent public updates on their status YouTube (interview context).

Currently, no public updates indicate a change in his relationship status, so it remains a private aspect of his personal life.

The timeline shows a steady rise from a fourth-round pick to a key Senators player, with the 2022 contract marking the inflection point.

The pattern suggests Batherson’s value is clear on paper, but his injury history introduces uncertainty that Ottawa must manage.

The quotes reflect the cautious tone around his injury and the typical non-committal stance on contract talks.

For Ottawa Senators fans and fantasy hockey managers, the key takeaway is clear: Batherson’s long-term contract locks in a core piece at a reasonable cap hit, but his recurring injury history means the team needs depth on the right wing. If he stays healthy, his $4.975M AAV will look like a bargain for a 65-point forward. If not, Ottawa faces a tough decision about how much cap space to allocate to a player who can’t stay on the ice. For fantasy managers, the two-week injury timeline is manageable, but keep an eye on his recovery speed—he’s a mid-round pick worth stashing on IR.

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Frequently asked questions

These answers address the most common questions fans have about Batherson’s contract, health, and personal life.