The NHL announced on Thursday that they would be reinstating the Ottawa Senators 1st round pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft with some new stipulations.
Ottawa was previously forced to forfeit their pick as a result of the cancelled trade between the Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights back in 2022 involving winger Evgenii Dadonov. When Ottawa dealt Dadonov to the Knights in 2021, then GM Pierre Dorion failed to disclose the existence of a 10 team no-trade list in the forward’s contract.
When Vegas then attempted to move him to the Ducks the next year, they were surprised to discover that Anaheim was on Dadonov’s list, and could subsequently block the deal. The NHLPA filed a grievance and the NHL announced it was canceling the trade, saying it “could not be concluded because Dadonov’s contract includes a limited no-trade clause, which has not been complied with.”
In November of 2023, the NHL announced that as a result of the failed trade, Ottawa would need to forfeit its first-round pick in either 2024, 2025, or 2026. The Senators opted to use their first round selection in both 2024 and 2025 (selecting Carter Yakemchuk and Logan Hensler) meaning that they were anticipating have no 1st round selection this offseason.
Senators management had been lobbying the NHL for some time now for leniency, citing “major changes for the organization” since the ill fated Dadonov trade took place. Dorion was let go and replaced by current General Manager Steve Staios, and the club was sold to Michael Andlauer prior to the NHL announcing its punishment. A fact which Andlauer made no effort to hide his displeasure with, believing that the league should have disclosed their intentions prior to the completion of the sale.
“Why I inherited this is beyond me,” Andlauer said at the time.
Ottawa also cited past precedent in their efforts to restore their draft pick. Back in 2010, the league stripped the New Jersey Devils of their first round selection after ruling that their 17 year contract with Ilya Kovalchuk was a clear effort to circumvent the salary cap. However, a few seasons later the NHL announced that they would instead force the Devils to select last in the 1st round of the 2014 NHL entry draft.
That precedent seems to be the same path that the league’s head office will follow once again as Ottawa will now pick 32nd overall in the 2026 Draft, and pay a $1M fine.
“After due and thorough consideration, the League has decided that a modification of the original penalty is warranted,” the NHL said in a statement.
“We fully accept the modified sanctions the League has imposed today,” Ottawa said in a statement. “We are grateful for the league and commissioner [Gary Bettman] keeping an open mind on this issue and modifying the penalty. The Senators organization is appreciative the fine money will be directed to the NHL Foundation Canada, to help grow the sport in our country. We consider this matter closed and will have no further comments on the situation.”
That means on draft day, every team that finishes behind the Senators will move up one spot. If Ottawa misses the Stanley Cup playoffs, it will still be allocated the same lottery odds that would have normally been assigned to the team for the drawing. However, should the Senators win either of the two lottery draws, there will be a redraw, meaning the team cannot select 1st overall regardless of how the ping pong balls fall.
Photo: Dynes Sports.