Player Discussion Drake Batherson (RW) - Part II

[Burrowsaurus]

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

He doesn’t not want to get physically involved on a daily basis and he also loves trying to do the pretty thing all the time when I’m not even sure he has the skill for it

 

[Volt]

His cap hit and potential are great but he's simply not cutting it, might be worth trading for an impact player

 

[coladin]

Still driving me nuts

 

[Volt]

Still driving me nuts

How about right now with this game?

 

[bicboi64]

Bath out here doing cardio again smh

 

[coladin]

How about right now with this game?

Terrible. And yet the coach continues to try and get him out of his funk. This tells me the coaching staff sees him as a guy who cares and is trying, but he just can't continue to disappear for 20-30 games. Every year.

 

[aragorn]

Batherson has a history of putting up pts with this team & given the only other good RW they have is the 36 yr old Giroux they need to keep him & let him get out of this funk & with him it could happen at any moment. It doesn't matter what happened in the past it's the future that matters & they need him contributing consistently which we all know he can when healthy & it's clicking for him. He came close again last night, so he is getting some chances. Good point producers don't just stop being good scorers, he just needs some puck luck.

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDoo]

Big thing I'd say is the guy just doesn't look good. And I don't mean his play, I mean physically -- he looks thin and pale. Could be battling a virus or something?

 

[armani]

Big thing I'd say is the guy just doesn't look good. And I don't mean his play, I mean physically -- he looks thin and pale. Could be battling a virus or something?

Yeah, Batherson looks noticeably older too:

He is what he is, an inconsistent offensive producer. Once he pops one in, he will go back on another offensive streak.

I thought he made strides defensively at the beginning of the year, but lately he has looked off in that department. Whatever it is, he needs to produce and contribute on both ends of the puck. Like me encouraging (and succeeding ) in getting G-man to shoot more, I would encourage the same to Bathman. Less pretty, more straight line hockey/rebounds/dirty goals to pump up the volume.

 

[Nova Stutzlia]

He had a rough January, but since Feb.1 he's has 7 points (2 & 5) in 9 games.
Not great but not bad, considering the criticism around here.

 

[aragorn]

Even though Batherson has had a tough go of it lately he is still 2nd in scoring on this team. And Norris too even with the injuries is one of our top 7 players. They need to get healthy & stay healthy & they need to get their scoring form back which in time I think they will. Perron & Amadio need to start producing pts for this team & when everyone is healthy they should.

 

[Answer]

He is still on the Team?

 

[DueDiligence]

Good point producers don't just stop being good scorers, he just needs some puck luck.

He should try working hard all the time instead of every third game and he would have more puck luck.

 

[Daffy]

I'd get rid of this guy yesterday. He's a lazy player. He shows up for one month of the season and gets people thinking he's a changed player and then goes back to his usual invisible ways. If you could somehow get Tuch for him, that would be ideal. The Sabres are pretty stupid.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Batherson is second on the team in scoring with 47 points 60 games, and he only makes 5.4M in salary this season.

He's one of the only offensive guys on this team that has actually justified his salary this year, yet people want to get rid of dump him because of a cold streak.

Not sure why he's the whipping boy over Tkachuk (46 points in 58 games making 10.5M), Norris (31 points in 52 games making 9.5M) and Chabot (30 points in 59 games making 10M).

 

[Icelevel]

Batherson is second on the team in scoring with 47 points 60 games, and he only makes 5.4M in salary this season.

He's one of the only offensive guys on this team that has actually justified his salary this year, yet people want to get rid of dump him because of a cold streak.

Not sure why he's the whipping boy over Tkachuk (46 points in 58 games making 10.5M), Norris (31 points in 52 games making 9.5M) and Chabot (30 points in 59 games making 10M).

those other players you listed do a lot of other positive things on and off the ice. When batherson is not scoring points he does absolutely nothing but puts us in bad situations. Unless he's really injured right now his play has been inexcusable.

Having said all of that, I felt the same way about chabot last year and he really changed it around. Maybe Batherson can do the same. Gonna need a huge dose of intensity and defensive commitment though.

 

[Hale The Villain]

those other players you listed do a lot of other positive things on and off the ice. When batherson is not scoring points he does absolutely nothing but puts us in bad situations. Unless he's really injured right now his play has been inexcusable.

Having said all of that, I felt the same way about chabot last year and he really changed it around. Maybe Batherson can do the same. Gonna need a huge dose of intensity and defensive commitment though.

He's been terrible so far in 2025, but he was excellent in October-December, and wins then counted just the same as wins now.

Same people who want Batherson gone will heap praise on Pinto, who has been terrific lately but was a complete no-show to start the season.

Big picture is what matters and Sens fans seem to have the memory of a goldfish.