NHL Decision on Senators' 2026 Draft Pick: No Forfeiture

The NHL has confirmed that the Ottawa Senators will not forfeit their 2026 first-round draft pick. This decision stems from a review of a trade issue that occurred in 2022.

The trade in question involved winger Evgenii Dadonov and was initially between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Anaheim Ducks. The cancellation of this trade raised questions about potential penalties.

Retaining the draft pick allows the Senators to maintain their strategic options for future roster development, preserving their capacity to enhance team performance through the draft.