Which 1st Rounder to Forfeit?

[aragorn]

There is a precedent for the NHL to lighten the penalty or rescind it.

MSN

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

There is a precedent for the NHL to lighten the penalty or rescind it.

MSN

Parroting things we already know...

 

[PlayOn]

I went back and checked and with NJ they didn’t announce that the punishment was reduced until March of the last year.

So we probably won’t find out for awhile, but I think we’ll end up with pick #32 next year.

 

[Hale The Villain]

I went back and checked and with NJ they didn’t announce that the punishment was reduced until March of the last year.

So we probably won’t find out for awhile, but I think we’ll end up with pick #32 next year.

There's a reason for that.

Kovalchuk left for Russia and retired from the NHL the previous summer, which led to a 250k cap recapture penalty for over a decade.

It's not a comparable situation to ours, not to mention the massive backlash Bettman got for lowering their penalty probably makes it less likely he does the same for us.

I can understand why Andlauer feels like he's been done dirty, but I really don't see why he thinks Bettman is going to change his mind on this.

 

[PlayOn]

There's a reason for that.

Kovalchuk left for Russia and retired from the NHL the previous summer, which led to a 250k cap recapture penalty for over a decade.

It's not a comparable situation to ours, not to mention the massive backlash Bettman got for loweing their penalty probably makes it less likely he does the same for us.

I can understand why Andlauer feels like he's been done dirty, but I really don't see why he thinks Bettman is going to change his mind on this.

Probably because he knows more than we do.

It’s just guesswork, but I tend to believe that based on the fact that they’ve consistently pushed this narrative and now they’re not forfeiting it this year, they’ve already gotten an answer on it.

I think they are very careful about how they craft their messaging to the fanbase. And I just don’t see them running with this over and over again if they truly felt it wouldn’t happen. I think it’d be in their best interest to move on from it in that case. But this is also an easy win to sell to the fanbase in a year, like “look how great we are, we convinced Bettman after all!” In reality I think they would’ve known the outcome for a long time.

 

[bert]

I think that they are going to give up the pick. My theory is that Andlauer is talking a big game for optics. They don't want Staios giving up the pick to be perceived as a vote of non-confidence in the team. Having Andlauer present it like he would like to keep the pick, but it's up to Staios to decide based on the strength of the draft.

It prevents the narrative from forming that they think they will be outside the playoffs next year. They can present it as they viewed the last pick in the first round next year as being stronger than the 21st, so it was a no brainer to keep it.

I dont think they care that much about optics. Based on how they have operated so far they typically do what they say they are going to do.

 

[bert]

People point to what he did for New Jersey as evidence that he might do the same for Ottawa. I wonder if that actually works against Ottawa.

If you're Bettman, you want teams to take the threat of your punishment seriously. He's already let New Jersey off the hook, but he can explain that away as an exceptional case. If he lets Ottawa off the hook, too, it's establishing a clear precedent for other owners that Bettman's punishments are negotiable. I think he'd rather stand firm on Ottawa, even if it looks hypocritical to the Sens organization, than put himself in a position where every team points to New Jersey and Ottawa and says "well now you have to go easy on us".

Except Andlauer didnt own the team when this went down and PD was gone within months of him owning it. So I dont think this is as black and white as everyone seems to want to suggest.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Have they said anything about this? Please for the love of Alfie, I hope they aware about the difference in quality between the 2025 and 2026 drafts.

We just have NO CHOICE but to forfeit the 1st this year. The 2025 pick would have to be in the Top-15 to this be a debate... 21st OA = NO DEBATE

Yes SS did, said the decision has been made but not making it public, followed it up with saying, likely they are leaning to taking the pick.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

I did not think the NHL would help the team but the team keeping the pick makes me think that they already have an indication that the punishment will be lessened, altered, or removed.

Staios dodged the question about the strength of this draft in relation to the pick they could have next year. He simply said they have good scouts.

With this being a late 1st, it seems illogical to keep it for any reason other than, they know that they will be granted a 1st next year.

 

[bicboi64]

Man if the leagues lessens the punishment to us egtting the 32 overall, that'll be some serioues big brain Summer of Staios type moment

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Fact is, we are a wildcard team. A wildcard when the Rangers and Bruins missed out on the playoffs. Also at a time when Buffalo and Detroit are young up and coming teams that just need that one last piece to click to make a big jump.

It would be insanely easy for us to fall out of the playoffs next year. One big core injury or a bad schedule is enough to do it. Success is a knifes edge right now. Then all of a sudden you're giving up a potential top 10 (or even top 5) pick in a really strong draft.

Trade this year’s first if we’re keeping it for immediate help. I have no interest in having a mediocre offseason where nothing changes before we start the season without out first rounder. There is too much volatility in our division to play these games.

Just go for it now or give up the 2025 pick.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

Except Andlauer didnt own the team when this went down and PD was gone within months of him owning it. So I dont think this is as black and white as everyone seems to want to suggest.

That's the grey area that Andlauer should look to exploit with Bettman and Co.. Talking points should include:

- "I wasn't the owner here and I've revived a moribund franchise. Does the league really want potential new owners to think that they'll be punished for the actions of the previous ownership? We are an entirely different business now."

- "The previous management created multiple problems. The consequences of those problems were felt first, and foremost, by the fans in Ottawa. Does the NHL really want to further punish those fans just as they start to regain some faith and interest in the NHL and it's product?"

- "Pierre Dorion is a f***ing putz. I couldn't wait to fire him. How about I just give a million bucks to a charity of the Golden Knights choosing, another mill to an NHL affiliated charity, we pick 32nd in 2026 and we all agree to never mention a certain shithead former GM ever again."

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

So when are we the public finding out the decision?

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Trade this year’s first if we’re keeping it for immediate help. I have no interest in having a mediocre offseason where nothing changes before we start the season without out first rounder. There is too much volatility in our division to play these games.

Just go for it now or give up the 2025 pick.

Is the 21st overall in a mediocre draft really worth that much in a trade right now? Not much point in moving it for yet another 2/3rd line tweener.

 

[Masked]

Not my original idea but if they're going to keep it, why not first try to trade next years with protection to a team like Calgary that has multiple firsts this year for a similar pick in this year's draft?

 

[Emerica]

So when are we the public finding out the decision?

If i were to guess we are going to see a communication being put out by the team tomorrow morning

 

[jake1]

Basically an outsider here. The Sens are my team but I only came aboard with the nodak boys. My impression is that SS knows what he's doing and I'd go with what he thinks is best. Can't believe what he did with no cap space or prospects or picks last year.

That said, watching Dallas and Colorado and Carolina in the playoffs, the competition out there is really tough and it's hard to see getting there. Need the core to reach new heights.