New Minas's Drake Batherson ready to battle as rookie tourney gets underway

Drake Batherson is ready for battle.

As the Ottawa Senators’ rookies prepared to board the bus Thursday afternoon to open their team tourney at the CAA Arena against the Winnipeg Jets in Belleville Friday night, the 21-year-old winger has done no shortage of preparations for the club’s main camp that will get under way Thursday with medicals at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Fresh off his third straight summer skating with the likes of Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby, Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon and Boston’s Brad Marchand at the BMO Centre in Bedford, N.S., Batherson has seen first-hand the hard work it takes every day to be a full-time NHLer and the club’s fourth-round pick in 2017 is hopeful he’ll make the next step.

Let’s be honest, getting the chance to see the approach that trio takes couldn’t hurt. In July, they skate together a couple of times a week and then in August it’s stepped up to three days a week. Marchand didn’t arrive until mid-July because the Bruins went to the Stanley Cup final and New Jersey’s Taylor Hall also spent time there as well.

“The pace is really high and they work so hard even though they’re the best players in the world,” Batherson said following the club’s skate Thursday at the Bell Sensplex in Kanata. “It’s a fun environment to be around all summer, but you learn a lot for sure.”

So, are the coaches on the ice running the drills, Batherson was asked?

“I think Sid lets them know the night before what he wants to do,” Batherson said with a chuckle. “Nah, there’s a coach out there and it’s a great practice. There’s some really high-end skates.

“It’s huge. I remember my first camp coming in and being so intimidated by the older guys and all the great players here. But after skating with all of them, coming here now I don’t feel so intimidated because I’ve been able to skate with Crosby and them. I feel way more comfortable coming here.”

All you have to do is take one look at Batherson to realize there’s been a noticeable change since he left the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville at the end of last season. The Senators told him they wanted him to get stronger after he suited up for 20 games in Ottawa last season and he worked hard to add 10 pounds of muscle.

While Batherson had three goals and nine points during the stretch of games he played with the Senators, his production fell off before he was sent back to Belleville. Not only was he named to the AHL all-star team, he was the league’s rookie-of-the-month in February with nine goals and 18 points in 10 games.

Unfortunately, Batherson struggled down the stretch in Belleville with only one goal in 13 games as the Baby Sens missed the playoffs with a loss on the final day of the season.

“I mentioned to him he put some muscle on those shoulders and he looks broader. That should help him in those one-on-one battles,” said Belleville coach Troy Mann, who will be behind the bench for the rookie tourney. “He’s one of the key players and I know from (coach) D.J. Smith’s message he’s going to have to earn it.

“But I think there’s a spot there for him to lose and he’s just got to be good. He’s got to learn from last year. He was fantastic early for us and, quite frankly, could have been arguably the best player in our conference. Down the stretch, scoring was hard because everything tightens up and we’re all fighting for playoff position so he has to learn from that.

“That’s what the NHL is all about so I’m looking forward to seeing the steps he makes, not only this weekend, but going into next week.”

Batherson is aware with the Senators in a youth movement he’s got a chance to get to the next level on a full-time basis. He is being given the opportunity to have success by skating with centre Logan Brown and winger Alex Formenton.

“I got a taste (last year),” Batherson said. “I know what it’s like to be here and play here and that’s what I’m striving for this camp. I think I’m ready and I’ve just got to prove that in my games starting (Friday) night in Belleville and throughout camp by being consistent.

“I just want to play my game by creating offensive opportunities and being strong in my defensive zone. I’m playing some great linemates so it should be a lot of. I matured a lot last season and I learned a lot in the AHL, it’s such an under-rated league.”

If Batherson has his way when the bus pulls out of Belleville Monday night, he won’t be back again anytime soon.

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