NHL reinstates Senators’ 2026 first-round pick at 32nd overall
The National Hockey League announced Thursday they have modified the punishment given to the Ottawa Senators for their role in the botched trade of Evgenii Dadonov between the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks.
Big news from the NHL: the penalties for the #GoSensGo involvement in the 2021/22 Evgenii Dadonov trades changed: - Instead of 2026 1st forfeited outright, it's changed to pick 32 of the draft - Sens can't win lottery if they miss playoffs; a redraft will occur - $1 million fine
At the start of the 2023-24 NHL regular season, the league concluded the Senators had not provided the Golden Knights with the teams on Dadonov’s no-trade list when they moved him to Vegas in July 2021, causing a potential deal between the Golden Knights and Ducks to be canceled.
As punishment, the league ruled Ottawa must forfeit a first-round pick from one of the 2024, 2025 or 2026 NHL Entry Drafts.
According to an NHL press release on Thursday, the Senators applied for a reconsideration of the penalty, citing the team had been bought by a group led by Michael Andlauer after the incident involving Dadonov, but before the league announced its punishment.
“After due and thorough consideration, the (NHL) has decided that a modification of the original penalty is warranted,” the league wrote in a statement.
Instead of forfeiting their 2026 first-round pick, the Senators will now be automatically slotted to pick No. 32 overall in this summer’s draft, and they are not allowed to trade it in any capacity. If the Senators do not make the playoffs, they will still take part in the NHL Draft Lottery, but they will not be eligible to win.
The team will also pay a $1 million CAD fine, which will be directed to the NHL Foundation Canada, a league-sponsored charity.
Potential players who could be available with the No. 32 pick include forward Simas Ignatavicius, Tomas Ghrenko and Maddox Dagenais, as well as defenders Giorgos Pantelas and Nikita Shcherbakov.
Going into Thursday’s slate of games, the Senators are 32-23-9 with 73 points, sixth in the Atlantic Division and five points back of a Wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference.