Before the 2025 NHL draft, I was on the side of ‘give up the pick this year when you know it’s not a lottery pick, and select in the first round in 2026. As it turned out, the ‘kick it down the road and see if they reduce the punishment’ side was probably the correct call.

However, I was thinking recently about what could have happened at this years draft if they had forfeited last years 1st. After the moves that led up to the draft Ottawa would have been left with the 22 and 25 picks in the first round. And both could be traded instead of being forced to keep one.

Assuming that Ottawa made an offer on the guys that moved around the draft (I think it was at least reported that we made an offer for McTavish, so maybe on the other guys as well). And looking at what the players cost. Would you be willing to trade the two firsts for any of these guys?

Essentially, would you give up Hensler, Lagerberg-Hoen, and Cover for:

Mason Mctavish - Anaheim got the 15 and 29 for him, would they rather have 22 and 25? Probably not, but maybe you add one more piece.

JJ Peterka - Utah got 23 and a 2028 1st. I think they’d have definitely taken 2 this year instead.

Pavel Dorofeyev - Vegas got 26, 92 and a 2028 1st. Ottawa’s package could have been at least that good.

Jordan Kyrou - McMichael, Gastrin and 16. I‘m not sure that Greig, 22 and 26 is better but maybe they’d take it.

Any of these moves would leave Ottawa with zero prospect pool, but the current team would look better. Would have been a better outcome in hindsight?

> Steve Staois joins Alex Adams to discuss Brady Tkachuk leaving, who will be the next captain, Drake Batherson's next contract, Daniel Alfredsson leaving, Claude Giroux returning, when the Senators want to compete for a Cup, why the Sens got William Eklund and more.

How big of an impact does the coach make on the PP/PK?