The upcoming year will be a decisive one for the Ottawa Senators, and the organization hopes to continue progressing. However, a difficult 2025-26 season could create one of the biggest controversies in NHL history.
Imagine the scenario: you're an organization that has gone through several very difficult years and you're finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
In the upcoming season, your young team competes, but finishes in the bottom ten of the NHL standings.
Then, you watch your chances of drafting the phenom Gavin McKenna disappear because the league decided to take away your first-round pick due to... Evgenii Dadonov.
Unfortunately, that is exactly what's happening right now with the Ottawa Senators organization.
In July 2021, Pierre Dorion decided to trade Evgenii Dadonov to the Vegas Golden Knights without properly accounting for the player's no-trade list.
When Vegas later attempted to trade Dadonov to the Anaheim Ducks, they discovered that the California team was on the forward's no-trade list.
The National Hockey League quickly opened an investigation, and Gary Bettman and his associates decided to hand down a harsh-or rather, extremely harsh-punishment to the Sens by taking away a first-round draft pick.
Ottawa was given the option to choose which year it would forfeit the pick-2024, 2025, or 2026. Today, Pierre Dorion is no longer the GM of the team, and it's Steve Staios who must now deal with this delicate situation. Ottawa chose to keep its 2024 and 2025 picks, so the 2026 pick is now lost.
There could be a twist between the NHL and the Ottawa organization regarding the Evgenii Dadonov saga
You might tell me you're convinced Ottawa won't be in the draft lottery in 2026. But the reality is, the NHL is filled with competitive teams, and there's no guarantee of a playoff spot. Looking at the Eastern Conference, anything can happen next season.
If they finish next season in the lottery, we could witness one of the most controversial decisions in league history. On the subject, Puck Pedia states:
The Ottawa Senators are required to forfeit their 2026 first-round pick. This decision is the result of a penalty imposed by the NHL for a mishandled trade involving forward Evgenii Dadonov.
This penalty stems from how the Senators handled Dadonov's no-trade clause when transferring him to the Golden Knights. The Senators had to decide which year they would forfeit the pick within 24 hours of that year's draft lottery. They did not forfeit their 2024 or 2025 picks; therefore, the 2026 pick will be lost.
It is possible that the NHL could amend the penalty and return the pick to Ottawa, but so far, no changes to the original penalty have been publicly announced.
This penalty stems from how the Senators handled Dadonov's no-trade clause when transferring him to the Golden Knights. The Senators had to decide which year they would forfeit the pick within 24 hours of that year's draft lottery. They did not forfeit their 2024 or 2025 picks; therefore, the 2026 pick will be lost.
It is possible that the NHL could amend the penalty and return the pick to Ottawa, but so far, no changes to the original penalty have been publicly announced.
Let's bet the NHL and the Sens are hoping that doesn't happen-and that all of this is soon forgotten in the coming years. To be continued!
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 22 | 317 ANSWERS One of the NHL's Most Controversial Decisions Could Soon Have Major Consequences Do you think the Ottawa Senators will manage to secure a spot in the playoffs? | ||
| Yes | 190 | 59.9 % |
| No | 127 | 40.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
