Senators Land No. 32 Pick — And the Commissioner Thinks It Was Warranted
Ottawa Senators fans have been waiting for good news, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman just delivered some. The league has confirmed that the Senators will receive the No. 32 overall selection in June's NHL Draft, and Bettman says he felt the decision was not just justified — it was appropriate.
"It felt like the right thing to do," Bettman said when asked about the decision to award Ottawa the compensatory first-round pick, which will slot in as the first selection of the second round in terms of draft order.
For a franchise that has been in a steady rebuild over the past several years, any first-round talent entering the fold is meaningful. The Senators have been aggressive in building through the draft, and adding the No. 32 pick gives them an extra chip to play with — whether that means selecting a prospect or packaging it in a trade to accelerate the timeline.
What Does Pick No. 32 Mean for the Sens?
The No. 32 overall pick sits right at the top of the second round, a sweet spot that has historically produced legitimate NHL contributors. Players like Blake Wheeler, Niklas Backstrom, and Tuukka Rask were all taken in that range in previous drafts. For Ottawa, the pick represents both immediate draft floor and tradeable currency.
The Senators already hold their own first-round selection heading into June, giving the organization a pair of high picks to work with. General manager Steve Staios and his scouting staff will have options: double down on building through the draft, or use one of the picks to pursue a difference-maker via trade.
Ottawa's prospect pool has drawn praise from around the league over the past two drafts, and the addition of another first-round calibre asset only deepens that foundation.
The Bigger Picture in Ottawa
Beyond the draft logistics, Bettman's comments carry a symbolic weight for a franchise that has navigated significant off-ice turbulence over the past decade. Having the commissioner publicly endorse the decision to compensate Ottawa signals a degree of league goodwill that the organization can build on.
The Senators are not just rebuilding on the ice — they are rebuilding their standing as a credible franchise. New ownership, a retooled front office, and a young core headlined by Tim Stützle, Brady Tkachuk, and Jake Sanderson have shifted the energy in the capital. Moves like this one, however behind-the-scenes, contribute to the sense that the Senators are being taken seriously again.
For fans in Ottawa who have sat through some difficult seasons, this is the kind of incremental progress that stacks up. A first-round pick acquired at no cost is not a Stanley Cup — but it is another piece on the board.
The 2026 NHL Draft is scheduled for June. Sens fans will be watching closely to see who wears the red and black when the No. 32 card gets flipped.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
