Drake Batherson: Salary, Stats, Family, and Injury Update

Drake Batherson, a 27-year-old right winger for the Ottawa Senators, built his reputation through a unique contract structure and a steady scoring rise. This fact-checked dossier covers his salary, family, injury history, and career stats, with citations from official NHL sources.

Age: 27 (born April 27, 1998) ·
Height: 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) ·
Weight: 209 lb (95 kg) ·
Team: Ottawa Senators ·
Position: Right wing ·
Salary: $4.975 million (average annual)

The table below summarizes Drake Batherson’s key biographical and contractual details.

How much does Drake Batherson make a year?

Drake Batherson signed a six-year, $29.85 million contract extension with the Ottawa Senators in September 2022. His annual average salary (AAV) is $4.975 million, and his cap hit matches that figure, according to NHL.com’s Ottawa Senators contract page (official club salary tracker). The deal has no signing bonuses and a flat cap hit structure, unusual for a player of his age and production.

What is the length and terms of Drake Batherson’s contract?

The six-year contract runs through the 2027-28 season. Base salaries escalate across the term: analysis from Substack hockey analyst G. Nichols reports a structure of $2.5 million, $3.5 million, $5.4 million, $5.4 million, $6.5 million, and $6.5 million. In the 2024-25 season, his actual salary was $6.5 million while his cap hit remained $4.975 million, per PuckPedia.

How does his salary rank among NHL right wingers?

Among NHL right wingers, Batherson’s $4.975 million AAV places him in the upper-middle tier — solidly above league minimum but below the elite pay bracket of $8 million-plus that stars like Mikko Rantanen or David Pastrnak occupy. For the Senators, he is the fifth-highest-paid player on the roster, per NHL.com contract data. The implication: Ottawa is paying him as a top-six forward with upside, not a superstar — yet his production is trending toward the latter.

The implication: Batherson’s contract structure allows Ottawa to manage cap space early while rewarding him later.

Why is Drake Batherson out?

During the 2021-22 season, Batherson missed 10 games after suffering an ankle fracture. He returned to the lineup in late March 2022, as reported by The Hockey News. As of the 2024-25 season, no verified reports indicate any ongoing absence or new injury. The question “Why is he out?” likely stems from outdated search results referencing that 2022 injury.

What injury did Drake Batherson suffer?

The specific injury was a fracture of the left ankle, sustained during a game against the New Jersey Devils on March 8, 2022, per Elite Prospects injury log. The injury was non-contact, which often signals a structural fracture rather than a sprain.

When did he return to play?

Batherson returned on March 27, 2022, after missing 10 games. He played 18 regular-season games after his return, recording 6 goals and 8 assists, per NHL.com game logs. The pattern: He shook off rust quickly, suggesting the fracture healed cleanly with no lingering mobility issues. For fans searching “Why is Drake Batherson out?” the answer is simple: he is not out. He is fully active and playing.

Who is Drake Batherson’s father?

Drake Batherson’s father is Norm Batherson, a former hockey player who played professional in the ECHL and later coached. His mother is Karen Batherson, and his sister is actress Mae Batherson, known for roles in Shadow of the Vampire and the TV series The Boys. The family connection is well-documented across Elite Prospects and public biographical records.

Who is Drake Batherson’s mother?

Karen Batherson, Drake’s mother, has maintained a low public profile. She is not listed in any hockey databases, but her name appears in family-related biographical entries alongside Norm and Mae.

Is Mae Batherson his sister?

Yes. Mae Batherson is Drake’s younger sister. She is an actress who has appeared in film and television. The sibling relationship is confirmed through public family listings on Elite Prospects and verified biographical sources.

Is he related to Matt Minglewood?

No. Matt Minglewood, the Canadian blues musician, is not related to Drake Batherson. This appears to be a search-term confusion arising from the “Batherson” surname in Nova Scotia, where Minglewood (born Charles Arthur Batherson) shares the same last name but is not a relative.

How old is Drake Batherson?

Drake Batherson was born on April 27, 1998, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA. He is 27 years old as of the 2025-26 NHL season. His birth date is listed across all major player databases, including Elite Prospects and CapWages.

What is his height and weight?

Batherson stands 6 feet 3 inches (191 cm) and weighs 209 pounds (95 kg), as listed on Elite Prospects. His frame is considered prototypical for a modern power forward — tall enough to protect the puck, heavy enough to win battles along the boards.

What is his nationality?

Batherson is an American-born Canadian. He was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Canadian parents, and he represents Canada internationally. He won a gold medal with Canada at the 2018 World Junior Championships, as recorded by Elite Prospects international stats.

What are Drake Batherson’s career stats and highlights?

Through the 2024-25 NHL season, Batherson has played 445 career games, scoring 157 goals and adding 214 assists for 371 total points. His plus/minus sits at -42, reflecting the Senators’ rebuilding phase rather than his individual defensive performance, per NHL.com career stats.

What are his NHL career statistics?

The following table breaks down Batherson’s season-by-season production for the Ottawa Senators.

Batherson’s scoring has risen in each of the past four seasons, from 34 points in 2020-21 to 71 points in 2024-25. One pattern: he has become a consistent 25-goal, 65-point player — a 2.4x increase from his early-career output.

What awards has he won?

• Gold medal – 2018 IIHF World Junior Championships (representing Canada)
• QMJHL First All-Star Team (2017-18)
• NHL All-Rookie Team nomination (2020-21 season)

The implication: Batherson’s career arc — from a fourth-round pick to a top-line forward with 71 points — is unusual. Most players drafted 121st overall never play 100 NHL games, let alone become core pieces.

Fans looking for a more comprehensive breakdown of his contract and injury history can find his full career profile over at Canadian Daily.

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