Drake Batherson’s hockey story starts in Fort Wayne, Indiana, but it’s a Nova Scotia upbringing that shaped his game. Today, he’s a key right winger for the Ottawa Senators — and his dual citizenship makes him a rare bridge between American and Canadian hockey.

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Born: April 27, 1998 ·
Height: 6’3″ ·
Weight: 209 lbs ·
Position: Right Wing ·
Team: Ottawa Senators ·
Contract: 6 yrs, $4.975M AAV

Quick snapshot

1Player Bio
2Career Stats
3Contract Details
4Family & Personal
  • Father: Norm Batherson (former pro hockey player) (CBC News)
  • Has a sister and a brother (Elite Prospects)
  • Wife: Not publicly confirmed (Wikipedia)
  • Mother: Known but not widely reported (CBC News)

Six key facts define Drake Batherson’s profile, from his birth date to the contract that locks him into Ottawa’s core.

Label Value
Born April 27, 1998
Height 6’3″
Weight 209 lbs
Position Right Wing
Team Ottawa Senators
Contract 6 yrs, $4.975M AAV

Is Drake Batherson injured?

Current injury status

  • As of the latest reports, Drake Batherson is not listed on the injury report and is active for the Ottawa Senators (Puckpedia injury tracker).
  • He has played in recent games without any reported issues (NHL.com game logs).

Recent game participation

  • Batherson suffered a significant ankle injury in January 2022 that sidelined him long-term (Puckpedia).
  • On January 27, 2022, reports said he was expected to miss at least two months (Puckpedia).
  • He was removed from injured reserve on March 25, 2022 (Puckpedia).
Bottom line: Batherson is currently healthy. The 2022 ankle injury is behind him, and he has been a regular in the Senators lineup. For fantasy managers, he’s a safe start.

What is the Drake Batherson contract?

Contract terms

  • Drake Batherson signed a six-year, $29.85 million contract with the Ottawa Senators on September 3, 2021 (NHL.com / Ottawa Senators official announcement).
  • The contract carries an average annual value of $4.975 million (NHL.com).

Salary cap hit

  • The cap hit is $4.975 million per season (CapWages contract data).
  • The salary breakdown by season: $2.5M, $3.5M, $5.4M, $5.4M, $6.5M, $6.55M (NHL.com salary details).

Years remaining

  • The contract runs through the 2026-27 season (NHL.com).
  • After that, Batherson will be 29 years old and eligible for unrestricted free agency (CapWages).

The implication: Ottawa locked in a top-six forward at a reasonable $4.975M cap hit, but the back-loaded salary structure means real dollars jump in the final two years — a potential trade chip if the Senators need flexibility.

The trade-off

The cap hit stays constant but real cash rises sharply in years five and six, giving Ottawa a negotiating chip for future roster moves.

Where was Drake Batherson raised?

Birthplace

  • Drake Batherson was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA (Elite Prospects player database).

Upbringing

  • He was raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, where he developed his hockey skills (CBC News Nova Scotia).
  • His father Norm’s hockey career took the family to the Maritimes, and Drake grew up playing in the small-town rinks of Cape Breton (CBC News).
Bottom line: Batherson is an American-born Canadian who grew up in Nova Scotia. His dual identity is a rare asset — he represents Canada internationally but holds U.S. citizenship.

Who is Drake Batherson’s father?

Father’s name

  • Drake Batherson’s father is Norm Batherson (Elite Prospects).

Father’s background

  • Norm Batherson is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the minor leagues (CBC News).
  • He is a North Sydney, Nova Scotia native and signed a pro contract with the Senators organization in 1993 (CBC News).
  • Norm Batherson also coaches and has influenced Drake’s career (CBC News).

The pattern: The Bathersons are a rare father-son combo to both sign contracts with the same NHL franchise. Norm’s pro background gave Drake early exposure to the game’s demands.

Why this matters

Norm Batherson’s own Senators contract in 1993 created a family legacy that Drake now extends with a $29.85M deal.

What is Drake Batherson’s nationality?

Citizenship

  • Drake Batherson is an American-born Canadian citizen (CBC News).
  • He holds dual American-Canadian citizenship (CBC News).

International representation

  • He represents Canada internationally (Elite Prospects).
  • Batherson won a gold medal with Canada at the World Junior Championships (Wikipedia).
Bottom line: Batherson’s citizenship is a footnote in most bios but a key part of his story. Born in the U.S., raised in Canada, he chose to play for Canada on the international stage — a decision that reflects his Nova Scotian identity.

Eight key specs define Batherson’s physical profile and career trajectory, from his draft position to his contract structure.

Spec Detail
Born April 27, 1998
Height 6’3″
Weight 209 lbs
Position Right Wing
Shoots Right
Drafted 2017, Round 4 (121st overall) by Ottawa Senators
Jersey Number 19
Contract 6 years, $29.85M (AAV $4.975M)

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana (Elite Prospects)
  • Signed 6-year contract with Ottawa ($29.85M) (NHL.com)
  • Father is Norm Batherson (CBC News)
  • Represents Canada internationally (Elite Prospects)
  • Height 6’3″, weight 209 lbs (Wikipedia)
  • Drafted 121st overall in 2017 (Elite Prospects)

What’s unclear

  • Exact date of return from any minor injury (if applicable) (Puckpedia)
  • Wife’s identity
  • Details of mother’s background

For Batherson, the path from Fort Wayne to Ottawa is a story of hockey lineage and cross-border identity. The Senators have their top-six right winger locked in through 2028-29, but the real test will be whether he can stay healthy and deliver on a contract that pays him more in the later years. The bet is that Batherson’s best hockey is still ahead — and that his dual-heritage background gives him a unique perspective on the game.

Related reading: Chris Tanev: Bio, Stats, Injury and Maple Leafs Career · Matthew Knies: Bio, salary, stats and future with Leafs

Additional sources

puckpedia.com, dailyorange.com, capwages.com, reddit.com, spotrac.com, halihockeyblog.wordpress.com, thehockeywriters.com, nhlpa.com

For a deeper look at Drake Bathersons salary and stats, fans can explore a detailed breakdown of his contract and performance history.

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Frequently asked questions

How old is Drake Batherson?

Drake Batherson was born on April 27, 1998, making him 26 years old (as of 2024). (Elite Prospects)

How tall is Drake Batherson?

He is 6’3″ (191 cm) tall and weighs 209 lbs (95 kg). (Wikipedia)

Who is Drake Batherson’s wife?

Drake Batherson’s marital status is not publicly confirmed. No credible sources have identified a wife. (Wikipedia)

Who is Drake Batherson’s sister?

Drake Batherson has a sister, but her name is not widely reported in public sources. (Elite Prospects)

Who is Drake Batherson’s mother?

Drake Batherson’s mother is known to the family but not publicly identified in mainstream media. (CBC News)

What is Drake Batherson’s jersey number?

He wears number 19 for the Ottawa Senators. (NHL.com)

When was Drake Batherson drafted?

He was drafted in the 4th round, 121st overall, by the Ottawa Senators in the 2017 NHL Draft. (Elite Prospects)