Batherson and Leonard land eight-year deals as NHL teams beat CBA contract-term deadline

NHL clubs rushed to lock up players on maximum-length contracts on Tuesday, September 15, the final day before the league’s new collective bargaining agreement cut the longest permitted deal from eight years to seven. Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson and Washington Capitals forward Ryan Leonard were the headline signings on deadline day.

Batherson, 28, agreed an eight-year, $86 million extension with the Senators carrying an average annual value of $10.75 million. He set career highs last season with 33 goals and 71 points in 79 regular-season games, then added three goals and an assist in four playoff games. “Drake exemplifies what it is to be an Ottawa Senator,” general manager Steve Staios said. “He was drafted and developed by our organization and has shown a commitment to wanting to be in Ottawa long term. We view him as a key part of our core group.”

In Washington, 21-year-old Leonard signed an eight-year, $84 million extension worth $10.5 million a season that runs through 2034-35. The No. 8 pick in the 2023 draft had 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists) in 75 games as a rookie in 2025-26, ranking third among first-year players in power-play points and five-on-five goals. The Capitals also handed Justin Sourdif an eight-year, $50.8 million contract with a $6.35 million cap hit. “Ryan is a young and talented player who is still years away from entering his prime, and we believe he has tremendous potential,” Capitals general manager Chris Patrick said.

Under the new CBA, which took effect at midnight, players re-signing with their current team can receive a maximum of seven years, while free agents signing with a new club are limited to six. The rules also cap signing bonuses at 60 percent of a contract’s value. Earlier in the window, Buffalo signed Noah Ostlund to an eight-year, $52.8 million deal and Pittsburgh extended Ville Koivunen for eight years and $32 million, while Colorado’s Cale Makar set a league record with his eight-year contract in August.

Several prominent restricted free agents, including Anaheim’s Cutter Gauthier, Columbus’ Adam Fantilli, Detroit’s Simon Edvinsson and Carolina’s Alexander Nikishin, remained unsigned as the deadline passed and can now only be re-signed on seven-year terms. NHL preseason games begin on Saturday, September 19.