NHL imposes penalty on Ottawa Senators: What is the real reason behind the hefty $1M fine?

The National Hockey League has recently confirmed a financial penalty against the Ottawa Senators, fining the franchise $1 million and imposing restrictions on its 2026 draft pick following a long-running controversy linked to a failed trade involving Evgenii Dadonov.

However, the league has announced vital changes to the disciplinary sanctions imposed on the Ottawa Senators for their role in Evgenii Dadonov’s failed trade from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Anaheim Ducks.

In reality, the penalty stems from the 2021 trade that sent forward Evgenii Dadonov from the Ottawa Senators to the Vegas Golden Knights. The situation further escalated in March 2022 when Vegas attempted to trade the forward to the Anaheim Ducks.

Reports suggest that the deal was ultimately invalidated after it was discovered that Dadonov’s contract included a 10-team no-trade list that had not been properly communicated during the original transaction, which led to these major complications. Let's take a closer look at the real reason behind the fine and revised disciplinary decisions.

NHL revises disciplinary sanctions imposed on Ottawa Senators following Evgenii Dadonov’s controversy

The NHL has recently announced to revise the disciplinary sanction previously imposed on the Ottawa Senators regarding the controversial trade involving Evgenii Dadonov. According to NHL.com, it imposed a hefty fine on the Ottawa Senators for its role in connection with the July 2021 trade of Evgenii Dadonov from the Senators to the Vegas Golden Knights and the subsequently invalidated March 2022 Dadonov trade between the Golden Knights and the Anaheim Ducks.

Initially, the NHL ruled in 2023 that the Senators would have to forfeit a first-round draft pick in either the 2024, 2025, or 2026 NHL draft as punishment. However, the club later requested reconsideration, citing changes in ownership and management that had occurred since the incident.


After careful review of the situation, the league decided to revise the sanctions. The league will allow the Senators to retain their first-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft, but will be required to select 32nd overall, the final pick of the round. The team will also be prohibited from trading or transferring that selection. In addition, the club will pay a helfty fine of $1 million.

Responding to the consideration, the Ottawa Senators owner, Michael Andlauer, stated, “We fully accept the modified sanctions the League has imposed today. We are grateful for the League and Commissioner keeping an open mind on this issue and modifying the penalty.”

He further added, “The Senators organization is appreciative that 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 NHL also further stated it does not intend to comment further on the issue, wants to effectively bring a closure to a controversy that has been doing the rounds since Dadonov's trade.