NHL Adjusts Senators’ Penalty for Canceled Trade

Bassyonni

Published: March 12, 2026 4:37 PM ET

The National Hockey League (NHL) has modified the penalty imposed on the Ottawa Senators regarding their involvement in a controversial trade. This decision alters the initial sanctions that affected the franchise’s future draft picks.

NHL Adjusts Senators’ Penalty for Canceled Trade

Originally, the Senators faced forfeiture of a first-round draft pick in either the 2024, 2025, or 2026 NHL Draft. This was related to the trade of player Evgenii Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights in July 2021 and a subsequent invalidated trade involving the Anaheim Ducks in March 2022.

Reasons for Modification

Following the change in ownership of the Senators, the team requested a reconsideration of its penalty. They argued that the new oversight warranted a reevaluation of the original sanctions. After thorough evaluation, the NHL agreed to adjust the penalty.

Details of the New Sanction

The Senators will forfeit their first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
They will retain the right to select 32nd overall in the same draft.
The Senators are prohibited from trading or transferring this 32nd overall pick.
A monetary fine of $1 million (CDN) will also be imposed on the franchise.

This adjustment means that the Senators’ usual draft position will be lost, and all other teams initially slated to pick behind them will move up one position in the draft order. In terms of the draft lottery, if the Senators do not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they will still keep the same lottery odds. However, they will not have the opportunity to win the lottery.

Repercussions for the Draft Lottery

Should a combination assigned to the Senators be drawn in either lottery draw, a re-draw will take place, ensuring that the odds for other non-playoff teams remain fair. The imposed fine will be directed to the NHL Foundation Canada, which aims to enhance communities through hockey.

The NHL will not provide further comments regarding this matter. This revised sanction reflects the League’s commitment to addressing issues responsibly while maintaining the integrity of its franchise operations.