The Ottawa Senators almost weren't even invited to the dance. Thanks to the botched trade of Evgenii Dadonov while Pierre Dorion was the team's general manager, the Sens were going to have to forfeit their first-round pick this year. But in March, the NHL rescinded its punishment, somewhat, and told the Sens that if they pay a small fee of $1 million (Canadian), they can have the last pick in the first round.
The Senators may have gotten a steal of a deal considering the current exchange rate. A million Canadian dollars can't buy you what it used to, but it can get you onto the dance floor in the first round of the 2026 NHL draft, which will take place on June 26-27 in Buffalo. That's where the Sens will draft 32nd overall, the last pick of the first round, and they are not allowed to trade or transfer their rights to that pick before they make that selection—which was the other part of the punishment handed down by the league.
No worries, as the Senators will surely be able to find someone that can fit into their current contention plans at that spot. Some mock drafts are suggesting they would be interested in Ryan Roobroeck, who has 99 goals in 176 games over three years with the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL. The 6-foot-4, 216 pound forward can command the play when he's at his best but is also known for having some lapses in his game.
Others see them taking another exciting step forward with tons of potential, Ryder Cali of the North Bay Battalion. One of the youngest players of his draft class, Cali had 36 points in 47 games in his first full season in the OHL. Since the Sens have used their last two draft years to build their defence in nabbing Carter Yakemchuk (2024, No. 7) and Logan Hensier (2025, No. 23), Cali would be a good choice to get a younger prospect to start adding more skilled forwards to their prospect group.
Senators in a good spot to take their next step, while their rivals jump the gun
The speculation will run rampant for the next month and a half, and it should've been a positive night for Senators fans to get excited about what comes next. However, the excitement was short-lived as the Senators' top rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs, moved up to the top spot of the draft.
Somehow, with a brand new general manager in tow. The Leafs landed the No. 1 overall pick for the second time in a decade. It was only ten years ago when the Leafs grabbed Auston Matthews with the first pick in the 2016 draft, and all they have managed to do with that is win two first-round series, including one against the Senators.
Their new GM John Chayka, who had already been ostracized by the league for some questionable conduct, will get to bring Gavin McKenna into the fold in the hopes that the Leafs can rapid-fire their rebuild.
While the Sens seem to be on the right path, despite a frustrating loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in this year's playoffs, there are some clear building blocks that have been put in place that the Sens can continue to build upon. And that should be their focus throughout the summer, even if their rivals will once again be stealing the spotlight with the first overall choice in their grasp.
The Senators drafted Shane Pinto at No. 32 overall in 2019, although that was part of the second round at that time. Pinto currently has just over 280 games played with the Senators and 153 points with 74 goals.
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