Player Discussion Drake Batherson (RW) - Part II

[SensFactor]

I feel like Batherson may be like Zib where the only way he can find the next level is after the wake up call of being traded by a disappointed club.

Sucks to be that club, but if we can get a solid contributor back that helps us win on a more consistent basis, then maybe that’s what we should do.

Maybe Drake is the guy we send to Utah for Crouse +.

At this point I think I’d rather trade him than Norris given the effort that Norris has been putting in this year, on top of defensive play, PK, faceoffs, hits, and goals.

We do need more playmaking in the top 6 though….

There was some talk that the Sens were interested in Jared McCann this week from Seattle.

Perhaps Batherson (RW) for McCann(C) straight up?

Both have similar cap hits, contract terms left, and age. Even their point totals are similar for the past few seasons. McCann is slightly older at 28. Compared to Batherson at 26.

 

[PlayOn]

Batherson was really good from January 2024- November 2024. And really consistent game over game.

Then December hit and all of our stars basically went cold. We survived on our goaltending, defense and secondary scoring that month, and then eventually Norris, Stützle and Tkachuk started getting their games back.

Batherson never did but I honestly just think he lost his confidence at some point. Had some bad luck with a few disallowed goals and his game just kept slipping further. I’m sure he’ll figure it out but we need him to get going now.

 

[bicboi64]

Bath is just out there doing cardio

 

[jbeck5]

We are fine this year we are in a playoff spot

Lol

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Lol

So you think Detroit is fine? Cuz they were just out of the playoffs? Did you think they were not fine then and fine now?

 

[jbeck5]

So you think Detroit is fine? Cuz they were just out of the playoffs? Did you think they were fine then and fine now?

I don't think either team is fine.

The fact you think a team is fine because they hold a playoff spot only for a few days is hilarious.

This team isn't fine until they're securing home ice.. until then, they're an average team at best, which isn't good or fine.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

I don't think either team is fine.

The fact you think a team is fine because they hold a playoff spot only for a few days is hilarious.

This team isn't fine until they're securing home ice.. until then, they're an average team at best, which isn't good or fine.

Making the playoffs actually would be fine.

You would be upset with making the playoffs?

You thought we would go from DJ smith hockey to securing home ice?

 

[jbeck5]

Making the playoffs actually would be fine.

You would be upset with making the playoffs?

You thought we would go from DJ smith hockey to securing home ice?

I said being in the playoff picture for a little while is not fine.

That implies we then fall out of the playoffs.

So now rephrase without your scenario including playoff hockey, and then ask if we're fine.

Also, if we make the playoffs and get killed...are we fine? How's are 3-5 year outlook? Not fine.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

I said being in the playoff picture for a little while is not fine.

That implies we then fall out of the playoffs.

So now rephrase without your scenario including playoff hockey, and then ask if we're fine.

Also, if we make the playoffs and get killed...are we fine? How's are 3-5 year outlook? Not fine.

When you’re battling for the last couple playoff spots you will fall out of of the playoffs and then back in and the back out. That’s sort of the nature of the beast. You’re not just going to be in the same spot all year long.

The 3-5 year outlook is completely cooked this is year 7 of the rebuild lol. You want another rebuild? I wouldn’t be opposed to it as I’ve stated before

If we make the playoffs and lose in the first round we will be in the same spot as 4 other teams in our conference. Someone has to lose.

But playoffs this year is a massive step from where we were under DJ

 

[jbeck5]

When you’re battling for the last couple playoff spots you will fall out of of the playoffs and then back in and the back out. That’s sort of the nature of the beast. You’re not just going to be in the same spot all year long.

The 3-5 year outlook is completely cooked this is year 7 of the rebuild lol. You want another rebuild? I wouldn’t be opposed to it as I’ve stated before

If we make the playoffs and lose in the first round we will be in the same spot as 4 other teams in our conference. Someone has to lose.

But playoffs this year is a massive step from where we were under DJ

I wouldn't be opposed either.

I think it would be foolish to waste 3-4 years trying to finally make the playoffs with this core just to tear it down in a few years.

I think we can sustain another rebuild...but we might not be able to sustain several wasted years followed by another rebuild. The team would have zero support if they don't make the playoffs in like 15 years while rebuilding.

We should probably rebuild after this year and hope we're in the playoffs in 3-4 years with a great young core and our cupboards stocked.

Wait too long and the fans will be gone.

 

[Icelevel]

Awful

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

I am torn of wondering if he will figure it out in 2-3 years and be excellent or if we should cut ties now.

Best solution would be to trade him for someone like McCann or add to Batherson to get Tuch(doubtful now).

 

[Boud]

I would be very surprised if he’s on the team next year. He’s just not cutting it. Complete ghost out there, doesn’t give enough. Not even close.

Trade him to Florida for Sam Bennett and re-sign him.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

wtf happened to Batherson?

He has a lot of tools, Size , good skating, very good hands, excellent vision, strong IQ, very good shot, seems like a good team mate

His commitment to defense is much improved

 

[Tuna99]

Plays like he’s the nicest guy in the league which he might be. If he could just win loose puck battles or any puck along the boards we’d be a completely different team.

Sens fans we pumping this guy up for Team Canada - don’t think you’d find many Sens fans who would say that now.

He’s playing church music soft.

He’s a first half of the season guy and always has been, maybe because he was never a great athlete he just had the talent, Dorion used to say he ate donuts for breakfast when he was in the AHL - he doesn’t have 82 game motivation and he runs out of energy afyer 41 games. Sad but the sample size is big enough now to safely say he’s a passenger in the tough part of the season

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[PlayOn]

I am torn of wondering if he will figure it out in 2-3 years and be excellent or if we should cut ties now.

Best solution would be to trade him for someone like McCann or add to Batherson to get Tuch(doubtful now).

He might. As of now he’s not great 5v5, but I still think Batherson is our best PP guy. That has value.

I don’t know what you do about the fact that Norris and Batherson can’t drive a line though, not even together, let alone on their own.

 

[DackellDuck]

98% of people living in this world have lives that are just a daily grind. Wake up, feed kids, go to work, entertain kids, go to bed, do it again.

What a weird article to write.

The average NHL player is what, 26 or 27 years old? They make tons of money, usually have minimal responsibilities outside the rink, and while they do travel a lot, everything about it is first class (no waiting to board the plane, no trying to find a cab, no standing in line to check in, no worrying about losing luggage). The monotony of everything is taken care of for them by team staff, agents, etc.

So yeah, lifes hard. But in comparison to most lives, the life of an NHLer is easy.

 

[Relapsing]

Hey, we all hate our jobs sometimes. Most of us don't make that much money doing it though.

They say money can't buy happiness, but it sure can buy you a lot of other things, like mental health professionals, life coaches, dieticians, and consultants on any manner of topics.

I don't say that to discount that hockey is absolutely hard, has a high risk of injury, takes a toll on your body, mind, family, and can leave you at the mid point of your life without a career or prospects.

But then again, a lot of jobs suck, are monotonous, take a toll on your body, have dangerous working conditions, and people generally need to do those kinds of jobs much later on in their lives.

I guess all that is to say, I wish hockey players would spend more time figuring out how they can help themselves by leveraging the crazy wealth they accumulate during their careers, and similarly spending more time talking about that in public. I find it difficult to be overly sympathetic to many of the issues Lazerus brings up - the monotomy of the regular season, the travel, or ripping tape off your gear just don't really hit home these days.

 

[PlayOn]

98% of people living in this world have lives that are just a daily grind. Wake up, feed kids, go to work, entertain kids, go to bed, do it again.

What a weird article to write.

The average NHL player is what, 26 or 27 years old? They make tons of money, usually have minimal responsibilities outside the rink, and while they do travel a lot, everything about it is first class (no waiting to board the plane, no trying to find a cab, no standing in line to check in, no worrying about losing luggage). The monotony of everything is taken care of for them by team staff, agents, etc.

So yeah, lifes hard. But in comparison to most lives, the life of an NHLer is easy.

I don’t think he wrote this article so we’d feel sorry for the players.

But the truth is that many of us live comfortable lives relative to other people. And we still complain about the grind of it all.

We glamorize the life of a professional athlete but it probably doesn’t always feel glamorous on the inside. I think that’s the only point. There is a lot of recognition in that article that they’re incredibly lucky, doesn’t change the fact that they’re human and aren’t always completely enjoying the process.

 

[Ouroboros]

Ain't nobody got time for this 'poor me' shit from a bunch of pampered millionaire athletes. f*** off.

 

[DackellDuck]

I don’t think he wrote this article so we’d feel sorry for the players.

But the truth is that many of us live comfortable lives relative to other people. And we still complain about the grind of it all.

We glamorize the life of a professional athlete but it probably doesn’t always feel glamorous on the inside. I think that’s the only point. There is a lot of recognition in that article that they’re incredibly lucky, doesn’t change the fact that they’re human and aren’t always completely enjoying the process.

I'm really not sure why he wrote that article. It seems like a topic suitable for some self-help session at an NHLPA player event, not something that'd be of interest to the general hockey fan in today's economic climate.

My favorite part is the Taylor Hall quote about going on the road and staying in another "shitty" hotel. Let's be real here, he's never stayed in shitty hotel during his entire NHL career.

I'm guessing some players consider anything that's not Le Barthélemy in St. Barts to be "shitty".

 

[PlayOn]

I'm really not sure why he wrote that article. It seems like a topic suitable for some self-help session at an NHLPA player event, not something that'd be of interest to the general hockey fan in today's economic climate.

My favorite part is the Taylor Hall quote about staying in another "shitty" hotels. Let's be real here, he's never stayed in shitty hotel during his entire NHL career.

I'm guessing some players consider anything that's not Le Barthélemy in St. Barts to be "shitty".

Yeah that part made me laugh. I don’t think there’s any doubt most of these guys are out of touch with reality. I still liked the article though - I know people don’t like when rich people complain but it’s honest. I’ll take it over the fake platitudes that every day in the NHL is a great day.