What happened: Batherson signed an eight-year contract, with prior Wire coverage valuing the agreement at $86 million. The deal arrived on the deadline day for teams trying to complete final eight-year extensions under the current CBA.

Why it matters: The agreement removes one of the more prominent unresolved NHL contract questions still hanging over camp. It also completes a negotiation that had been building since Batherson pushed to finish an extension before the season.

What to watch: Watch for any other long-term NHL extensions tied to the same deadline window. After that, attention shifts to training-camp integration ahead of the 2025-26 season.