It was some 14 years ago that Eugene Melnyk first arrived in the Nation’s Capital and rescued the Senators from the brink of bankruptcy.
But since 2013, talk of budgetary limitations have followed the franchise.
Many teams have their own internal caps but in Ottawa, it was more a necessity than a choice. And while the budget for players has increased (the team currently sits just outside the top 10 in projected cap hit), the talk of an uncertain fiscal future remains.
Now, with the absolutely vital process to move the team downtown and to a new home at LeBreton Flats well underway, rumours of changes to the Ownership structure persist.
Fans, media and the local business community have all heard the speculation but nobody knows exactly what to expect. A sale or just a financial partner? A local group or somebody else? The rumour mill includes a little bit of everything. But one thing many seem to agree on is that a fairly significant development could play out relating to Ownership of the Ottawa Senators and in the not too distant future.
It’s worth noting that in the past, Eugene Melnyk has been quite clear that he has no intention of ever selling the team.
Not surprisingly, the reaction to last night’s tweet has been uhh varied. A few people have since reached out to say they heard something similar while others have denied the possibility completely.
So I guess this is still best classified as a rumour but definitely something to keep an eye on.
-The NCC provided a quick update on the status of the ongoing LeBreton negotiations and for the first time, gave an indication that there might be a slight delay. Originally, they had hoped to have an agreement in place by the end of the year but that no longer seems to be the target. Meanwhile, they are expected to provide their next update in January 2018.
-Another full day off for the Senators today. They’ll return to the practice ice tomorrow ahead of Wednesday night’s match up against the Montreal Canadiens. That kicks off a stretch of seven straight games on the road including a trip to California.
-In the midst of their worst stretch of the season, the Senators made a couple roster moves yesterday. With Zack Smith returning Saturday, Nick Paul was sent back to Belleville. Thomas Chabot was sent back to after being a healthy scratch against the Islanders. Ben Harpur remains with the team for now.
