The National Hockey League has announced amendments to the disciplinary sanctions previously imposed on the Ottawa Senators related to their involvement in the July 2021 trade with the Vegas Golden Knights of forward Evgeni Dadonov (now with the New Jersey Devils), as well as a March 2022 trade attempt by the Golden Knights with the Anaheim Ducks, which was voided by the league.
basic penalty
Issues dealing with Dadonov's no-trade clause resulted in the Senators originally being required to forfeit their first-round draft pick in either the 2024, 2025, or 2026 NHL Entry Draft, which contributed to the subsequent trade being invalidated.
reconsideration and revision
Senators requested reconsideration of the fine, primarily citing changes in franchise ownership and operational oversight since the original incident, arguing that the initial sanction is inappropriate under the current circumstances. After a thorough review, the NHL determined that a modification was necessary.
Revised Approval Details
- The Senators will lose their natural first-round selection in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft (determined by lottery results and/or regular season standings, if they miss the playoffs).
- In exchange for their original position the club will select 32nd overall (last pick of the first round) in the 2026 draft.
- The Senators are prohibited from trading or moving this 32nd overall selection.
- Additionally, the club must pay $1 million (CDN) Good.
To implement this change:
- All other teams that originally finished behind the Senators in the first round will move up one spot in the draft order.
- Regarding the 2026 draft lottery (if the Senators miss the playoffs): The team retains its standard odds based on regular season performance but is ineligible to win the lottery. Any draw combination assigned to Ottawa will start the draw again, ensuring an equal increase in lottery winning chances for all other non-playoff clubs.
great allocation
The $1 million fine will be directed to the NHL Foundation Canada, a league-supported charitable organization dedicated to strengthening Canadian communities and improving lives through hockey by promoting access and positive experiences on and off the ice.
The NHL said it would not provide any further comment on the matter. This resolution reflects the League's view of the evolving circumstances while maintaining accountability for the original violation.
Dadonov plays for the Devils in 2025-26, and has no points in 18 games.
