Maybe the Ottawa Senators needed a bout of positive news following a tough Atlantic Division loss to the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 last night, just further challenging their chances at a 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff appearance. Therefore, let’s bring on the good news. The good news is they get their (previously forfeited) NHL Entry Draft pick back. The pick was originally conceded following the penalty imposed on the organization for failing to reveal a player’s contractual details involved in a trade. Let’s discuss the details.
Ottawa Senators News and they Retain their 2026 First-Round Draft Pick
The details of why the penalty was originally assessed had to do with the club’s trade of Evgenii Dadonov. In July of 2021, Ottawa traded Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights. However, during the transaction, Ottawa, led by general manager Pierre Dorion at that time, failed to provide some contractual details. Dadonov’s contract contained a 10-team no trade list. Ottawa did not make Vegas aware of such a specificity. As we fast forward to the trade deadline in 2022, Vegas tried to ship Dadonov to the Anaheim Ducks. In contrast, the NHL Central Registry prevented the deal, citing the player’s right to invoke his no-trade clause. As expected, this left a sour taste in the mouth of the staunch businessman general manager Kelly McCrimmon. The NHL eventually handed down its punishment around November of 2023. At that time, that meant the Sens would have to forfeit their first-round draft pick in either of 2024, 2025, or 2026.
A lot has changed over that time. The Sens had a change of ownership in 2023, when Michael Andlauer came to town. Also, it was in October of 2023 where the Shane Pinto gambling-related 41-game suspension went down. That was within days of the announcement of the original penalty for the trade. Enough was enough, and Dorion was now out as GM in Ottawa. The Sens would bring on their (now current) general manager Steve Staios.
As Andlauer and Staios began to get comfortable in their roles, they had lots of work to do. Over the past couple years, they were constant proponents to the cause of a reversal of the decision. One of the main arguments for their case was the overhauled regime change. The owner, gm, and head coach, among many other off-ice staff have changed in that time.
Finally, Today’s Positive Decision for the Sens Organization
So, that brings us full circle to today’s decision. The Sens organization had been smartly deferring the year they chose to forfeit their pick, in hopes of a change in the decision. Today, the NHL did announce a change to its punishment on the Sens for the botched trade. Rather than forfeiting their first-round draft choice, that the Sens had pushed back from either of 2024, 2025, or 2026, and thus, it was supposed to be in this year’s upcoming draft, they now are off the hook. Instead, they will get a first rounder this year, albeit the 32nd-overall selection. Also of note, they will have to pay a substantial fine of $1 million. There are conditions as well, such as they cannot trade the pick.
But now Sen fans and the entire organization can put this chapter in the rearview. They get their first-round pick in 2026. And most important, they get the closure. So, it is a reset. Now the team needs to focus on winning for this stretch drive.
Main Photo: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images