Prospect Drake Batherson has his sights set on the NHL
Senators prospect happy he’s getting lots of ice time, reworking game with Belleville
Drake Batherson didn’t get down on himself after getting sent down to the Belleville Senators.
Instead, the Senators’ winger turned his focus toward what it will take to get back to Ottawa.
“I don’t think it was a surprise to me,” Batherson said as the B-Sens prepared to face the Hershey Bears at CAA Arena on Friday night to start a two-game weekend homestand. “I don’t think I performed up to what I know I can do. More time down here isn’t going to hurt me at all. I’m playing a lot of minutes and I’m playing with some great players.
“It’s been great, and if you just keep working hard, things will come together soon enough.”
The 21-year-old Batherson made the Senators’ opening-night roster against the Toronto Maple Leafs and suited up for two games before being returned to the club’s AHL affiliate in Belleville.
He wasn’t thrilled with the way he performed in training camp and he’s trying to use his time here to make sure he can get back to the NHL on a fulltime basis.
There’s no doubt Batherson, a fourth-round pick in the 2017 NHL draft, has the skills to get the job done offensively, but he believes he spent camp distracted by trying to do too much to make the team and that took away from his play at both ends of the ice.
The confidence is starting to return to his game and he’s feeling good about himself.
“I was just thinking too much,” Batherson said. “I didn’t really feel like I played my game for the most part. I was just trying to please everyone rather than just playing my game and I was thinking about that (element of just playing his game) second.
“Down here I’ve found my game in the first couple of games and I think if I can play that way, that’s what’s going to get me to the next level. I was maybe a little hesitant on plays (in Ottawa) where I would just naturally make plays going by my instinct. Down here is going to help with my game and (coach Troy Mann) is giving me every opportunity to play. It’s fun.”
The Senators are trying to make sure Batherson has the confidence to return to the next level.
“We’re trying to get his quickness (improved),” Mann said. “Drake trained all summer and came and put some muscle on, and was it right type of muscle? That’s not my expertise, but I just know he’s a skilled player with tremendous vision and he needs to be able to have that quickness at the NHL level to make those high-end plays.
“I believe he’s got the skill set to do it. His quickness is something we need to work on, his ability to track back and get above the puck is another area and we’d like to see him get inside the dots a bit more. As much as he’s skilled and can make plays, those are areas where the goals are scored from.”
Mann said Batherson also has a great shot and needs to use it more because he’s being a little too generous trying to find his linemates.
“He doesn’t shoot the puck enough,” Mann said. “He’s a first-pass type of player and we just met with him (Tuesday) about that again to tell him he needs to trust his shot because he does have a great shot. We’ve seen examples of that, but not enough.
“When he came down. D.J. (Smith, Ottawa’s coach) and I specifically talked about those things. He knows where it’s at and he’s got to work on those things to get to Ottawa fulltime.”
Batherson, who scored the overtime winner and had four points in a 5-4 victory Saturday at home against the Binghamton Devils, knows what he has to do to get to the next level.
“Being consistent,” he said. “When you talk to any ex-professional player they’ve been consistent throughout their careers and that’s why they’ve played for such a long time and had some success.
“I just want to be consistent and focus on all the little things and that will translate over to the ice and make me perform at my best.
“I have to be just as good in the (defensive) zone as in the offensive zone and trying to make things happens every game. That’s my goal.”
There’s a good chance Batherson will return to Ottawa down the road. He suited up for 20 games last season and enjoyed early success in Ottawa with Matt Duchene before it became apparent he wasn’t ready. As GM Pierre Dorion has said, he’s one of the prospects who just needs a little more seasoning in the AHL.
“It’s still early in the season and you’re just getting your feet wet and getting more games under your belt,” Batherson said. “I’m definitely feeling comfortable.”
Sooner or later, being in that comfort zone will get him back to the NHL. bgarrioch@postmedia.com
Twitter: @sungarrioch