NHL Reinstates Ottawa Senators' Draft Pick

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The NHL has returned the Ottawa Senators' 2026 first round draft pick.

The league originally took it as punishment for a mix-up in the eve-gen-ideodon of trade

back in 2021.

Ottawa's former general manager failed to tell Vegas about Dotonov's no-trade clause

during a deadline deal attempt.

Earlier this week, the league announced the reversal after considering the team's ownership

change and other factors.

The Senators had picked the 2026 lots of forfeit, hoping they'd improved by then or get it

back.

Instead of the pick, they'll now pay a $1 million fine to the league.

New owner Michael Ann Lauer was upset when the penalty hit right after he bought the team.

He says he was assured it wouldn't be a problem.

This echoes what happened to the New Jersey Devils in 2013, who got their draft pick restored

the day after their deadline.

The reinstated pick will be the last one in the first round, 30 second overall, and Ottawa

can trade it.

Meanwhile, the team used their 2024 and 2025 first rounders on defenseman Carter Yakumchuk

and Logan Hinsler.

Some fans grumbled that getting the pick back sooner might have changed their trade plans.

Still, the NHL wasn't required to return it at all.

This clears up a lingering issue for the Senators as they push forward.

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