Player Discussion Drake Batherson (RW) - Part II

[Adele Dazeem]

Stone has a much wider 2-way game though. He's a Selke elite winger after all. I see Batherson more as a young and healthy Bobby Ryan, a great playmaker who can also score at will due to a very good shot. They even defend the same way as they play within the system and try to stick to being in the right position. Both don't/didn't nearly have Mark Stone's defensive awareness.

I think Drake is a 30/40 guy. Hopefully he has a healthy career





Totally understand from looking at hockeydb but when you have followed Batherson very closely for 4-5 years, you see things very differently.

I meant in terms of league recognition, not style of game.

 

[Matsens15]

He's unreal. Definitely the guy driving the offense on the top line.

High-end IQ, playmaking and shooting all in a 6'3 frame. Such a rare combination of skill and size.

He will be a point per game+ player for Ottawa for long long time! He has the Offensive IQ of a a top 5 pick in the NHL. What a steal.

 

[Xspyrit]

I meant in terms of league recognition, not style of game.

I hope but even for Stone, it took a very long time before getting recognition. We're the Ottawa Senators

 

[BradyTkachucky]

Stone 2.0

Better skater and more physical. Love the Drake

 

[TheDebater]

He needs a Backstrom type of centre to play with him and feed him the puck and he can be a 1.5 points per game player
Giroux?

1.5 points per game player? A touch optimistic I think, that is over 120 points if he plays 82 games.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

Better skater and more physical. Love the Drake

I agree and I think he has more polished offensive skills.

However, Mark Stone's hockey smarts at both ends of the ice are on a whole other level, not just from Drake but from 99.5% of the league.

Gotta love the Drake though. My favourite Sen to watch these days.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

Stone 2.0

No where near the hockey IQ

 

[Sting]

Yeah the Stone comparisons are off I think. Drake is a more flashy, talented player. I don't think he is the two way beast that Stone is.

That said he should produce better numbers than Stone as this team gets better.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

What about Jamie Benn? Both big physical guys who can dangle in a phonebooth.

 

[Adele Dazeem]

When I said "Stone 2.0" I meant in terms of recognition, nothing else. That's what was being argued on; whether or not Drake gets the credit for his point totals/game.

 

[bert]

What about Jamie Benn? Both big physical guys who can dangle in a phonebooth.

Good comparison. Dont see Stone, Drake is a much better skater, lays bigger hits but doesnt have close to the same IQ especially on D. He does have great vision.

And 1st among Canadian RWers - Olympic team?

If Mangiapane is getting consideration I see no reason for Drake not to get it. Neither should be there but they should both be on the long list.

When I said "Stone 2.0" I meant in terms of recognition, nothing else. That's what was being argued on; whether or not Drake gets the credit for his point totals/game.

Oh yeah its going to take forever.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

I think having him turn out to be a 70+ player is a massive win for us. And it's an achievable goal for him.

Asking anyone on the team for PPG (or 1.5 PPG) is asking way too much. We'll never be happy with any of our kids if that kind of production is the standard.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

I've been saying he has 40 goals 70+ point potential since I saw him in AHL.

Also, there's more to Batherson offensively than what we've seen. His hands and creativity are disgusting and he'll pull off a couple "best plays of the decade" moves.

IMO he still has a higher gear left. And it might correlate with how much more his body fills out. He still at times looks like a teenager when he's battling in the boards. With that being said, he's more finesse than he is hard and hitting--which is better for us cause he'll last longer and body wont deteriorate as fast. But the physical side is a nice surprise.

If he fills out a bit more, Batherson with Stutzle as C might be the lethal duo to look for.

Greig-Stutzle-Batherson (my God)
Tkachuk-Norris-Sokolov
Formenton-Pinto-Boucher/Jarventie

 

[Xspyrit]

Greig-Stutzle-Batherson

Damn, I love that line already. Probably our 3 most skilled forwards.

Then you have Tkachuk-Norris-Kemell behind them!

 

[Alex1234]

1.5 points per game player? A touch optimistic I think, that is over 120 points if he plays 82 games.

Agree
Maybe 1.2

 

[I3LI3]

Drake’s stats thru 20 games:

- 24 points (leads the team)
- higher PPG than Brady (to put into perspective)
- 8 goals
- 16 assists (leads the team)
- averaging nearly 20 mins a night.
- plays on ottawa’s top line and PP1

last season’s ppg average: 0.60
this season’s ppg average: 1.20

he’s averaging exactly double his point production this season compared to last (!!)

just 23 years old too. not bad for a 4th round pick out of good ole’ fort wayne, indiana who was taken 121st overall.

 

[Wallet Inspector]

We're fortunate that at age 20 Batherson decided "hmm actually I think I'll be a good hockey player".

 

[RedWhiteBlackGold]

My favorite Senator since Stone. This guy is simply a beast, definitely worth more than the contract he signed.

 

[PlayersLtd]

We're fortunate that at age 20 Batherson decided "hmm actually I think I'll be a good hockey player".

Splitting hairs but age 20, less 4 months. It was precisely at the 2018 WJHC when he decided that.

 

[elitepete]

Do you guys think Batherson could play C? He plays a bit like a center, and iirc, has played center at times in lower leagues.

 

[PlayOn]

Do you guys think Batherson could play C? He plays a bit like a center, and iirc, has played center at times in lower leagues.

I think he’s better on wing. Not a great defensive player or the best skater which is typically what you want from your centres nowadays.

 

[elitepete]

I think he’s better on wing. Not a great defensive player or the best skater which is typically what you want from your centres nowadays.

I thought he was good defensively, and thus the comparisons to Stone?

 

[PlayOn]

I thought he was good defensively, and thus the comparisons to Stone?

Not really, and he doesn’t remind me of Stone honestly. Stone was always the smartest player on the ice, Drake has more raw skill.

 

[SixthSens]

For all the faults of management, credit where credit is due for getting Drake locked up under $5M/year for 6 years… absolute steal of a deal for us.

 

[Sting]

For all the faults of management, credit where credit is due for getting Drake locked up under $5M/year for 6 years… absolute steal of a deal for us.

While this is true, I'd rather an extra 2M going to a guy like Batherson as opposed to being completely, utterly wasted on Pierre Dorion's next signing.