The Senators are still scheduled to surrender a first-round pick in either 2025 or 2026.

At Tuesday's NHL Draft Lottery, the Ottawa Senators found out that they would choose seventh overall in next month's draft. At Travis Green's welcoming press conference on Wednesday, they announced they want to keep the pick.

The league announced back in November that Ottawa would forfeit a first-round pick for not properly communicating the details of Evgenii Dadonov's no-trade clause when he was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights. That lack of communication eventually ended up nixing a trade when the Knights tried to flip Dadonov to the Anaheim Ducks in March 2022.

The Sens' error and the ensuing punishment were the final straw that cost GM Pierre Dorion his job. New owner Michael Andlauer was infuriated by the decision, wondering in front of the media, "Why I inherited this is beyond me."

Ottawa was given a choice of forfeiting their first-round draft pick in the 2024, 2025, or 2026 Draft, and today was the day they had to decide about 2024.

In truth, there was no chance the Senators would dump the seventh overall selection in next month's draft. If they did, that would signal they believe they will be a worse team next year and, thus, would have an even earlier first-round pick waiting for them next summer. Not only is that highly unlikely, it would send a terrible message to the fan base as they consider buying tickets for next season.

The Senators missed the playoffs this season for the seventh straight year. The team hopes Wednesday's hiring of head coach Travis Green and some expected roster changes this summer will help turn things around, making the forfeiture of a first-round pick in 2025 or 2026 far less painful.