Evgenii Dadonov

Evgenii Dadonov wastes no time lighting the lamp against the Hurricanes, sliding onto the third line with Cody Glass and Lenni Hameenaho in a matchup where New Jersey desperately needs points to stay alive in the playoff hunt. The Devils roll into Lenovo Center with a streaky 37-32-2 record, facing Carolina's powerhouse 45-20-6 squad that's dominating at home.

Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios breathes a quiet sigh of relief after the NHL reinstates their 2026 first-rounder at 32nd overall, salvaging a botched Dadonov deal that had front offices whispering about league overreach. With the Sens hovering around 73 points and playoff odds flickering between 26% and 68% across models, Staios doubles down on contention talk despite the crowded wild-card scrum.

The NHL finally bends on the Senators' long-hanging penalty from that botched 2021 Dadonov trade to Vegas, swapping a total first-round forfeiture for the 32nd pick in 2026 plus a $1 million fine. New owner Michael Andlauer lobbied hard, arguing the sins of the old Pierre Dorion regime shouldn't tank his rebuild, and Bettman's office heard him out after years of pleas from Ottawa fans.

The NHL tweaks its punishment on Ottawa for that messy Evgenii Dadonov trade fiasco from the Pierre Dorion era, sparing the new regime a total first-rounder forfeiture. Michael Andlauer lobbies hard behind closed doors, and now the Sens pick dead last in 2026's first round with no trading allowed, plus they cough up a cool million to the NHL Foundation.

The NHL softens its Evgenii Dadonov trade punishment, handing the Senators the 32nd pick in a ruling that sets new league precedent. Ottawa's draft table celebrates the upgrade as Staios balances fines and cap woes. This shift bolsters their prospect pool just as the hot streak ignites playoff talk.

The NHL tweaks its punishment on the Senators over that messy Evgenii Dadonov trade saga from back in 2021, when Pierre Dorion's undisclosed retention list info torpedoed deals with Vegas and Anaheim. Ottawa originally faced forfeiting a first-rounder in 2024, 2025, or 2026, a gut punch that had fans pleading for mercy since Dorion's already out the door.