The Ottawa Senators have been making headlines for all of the wrong reasons during the 2018-19 season. From the outside looking in, it’s truly been Uber disappointing.
(I said I would give myself one final ride-sharing pun in this article. I promise that is all.)
Entering the season, most knew this was to be a rebuilding campaign for the squad, and that it would present many opportunities for the franchise’s bursting pipeline of young talent.
One of those players was Drake Batherson, the team’s fourth round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Following a strong training camp where he set up teammates for beautiful overtime winners and convinced many that he may be worthy of a spot on the roster, the 20-year-old was a late cut.
Based on his numbers with the Belleville Senators, Ottawa’s AHL affiliate, he didn’t spend much time feeling sorry for himself. A spot on the top line, seven goals and 20 points in 14 games later, he earned his first NHL call up earlier this week.
Midway through his first game in the big leagues, he found the back of the net against the Detroit Red Wings to break a 1-1 tie.
Watching his friends and family react to that puck sneaking past Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard is incredible. They’re the ones that have supported him all the way to that moment and it’s great to see them enjoy it as much as — if not more than — he does.
The fact that this young, offensive firecracker was even on the ice with Matt Duchene during a Senators power play to begin with shows what head coach Guy Boucher and the rest of the organization think about what he’s capable of.
Batherson’s tally stood as the game winner in this one as Ottawa hung on for a 2-1 victory. He was also named the game’s first star.
Chalk that up as two more reasons for the ‘Batherson Bunch’ to celebrate.
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