NHL opts not to make Senators forfeit a 1st round pick for nullified 2021 trade

Ottawa Senators forward Dylan Cozens, left, and defenseman Thomas Chabot celebrate a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Seattle Kraken Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

The NHL has decided not to make the Ottawa Senators forfeit a first-round draft pick for their role in a 2021 trade that was later nullified.

The Senators instead will get the 32nd and final pick in the first round after the league decided their change of ownership affected what the appropriate punishment should be. The team will also pay a fine of 1 million dollars to NHL Foundation Canada.

If Ottawa misses the playoffs and happens to win the draft lottery for one of the first two picks, it will result in a re-draw. After announcing the alteration Thursday, the NHL said it will have no further comment on the matter.

“We fully accept the modified sanctions the league has imposed today,” Senators owner Michael Andlauer said in a statement. “We are grateful for the league and commissioner 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.”

The decision was initially levied on Nov. 1, 2023, that the Senators would forfeit a first-rounder in 2024, `25 or ’26. Andlauer, who had just taken over the team, fired then-general manager Pierre Dorion that day and named Steve Staois as the replacement for that role.

The Senators traded forward Evgenii Dadonov to Vegas in July 2021 and failed to supply the Golden Knights with the player’s 10-team no-trade list. Vegas attempted to send Dadonov to the Anaheim Ducks in March 2022 before the move was nixed by NHL Central Registry because he had not waived his no-trade clause.

There is precedent to the NHL reducing punishment after the fact. The New Jersey Devils in 2010 were docked a first- and a third-round pick and fined $3 million for a contract with Ilya Kovalchuk that was rejected. They instead were, like Ottawa, forced to the end of the first round in 2014.

-- With files from The Canadian Press.

The Associated Press