Evgenii Dadonov

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 finally pulls the plug on that lingering Dadonov trade fiasco, reinstating Ottawa's 2026 first-round pick right where it lands at 32nd overall. Sens brass under Michael Andlauer and Steve Staios have quietly pushed back on a penalty doled out under the old regime, drawing parallels to the Devils' Kovalchuk escape hatch that shaved their forfeiture down to the draft's tail end.

The Ottawa Senators dodge a full draft bullet as Gary Bettman steps in to modify their long-standing penalty from the Dadonov trade mess that hung over the franchise for years. Front offices around the league buzzed about how Ottawa would navigate this cap on their future, but Bettman's adjustment slides them right into the No. 32 spot for this year's draft.