Is Eugene Melnyk a good owner?
- Thread starter Fandlauer
- Start date
CanadianHockey
Smith - Alfie
I voted Poor.
Matches his claims about the team's finances.
To be honest, he used to be a good owner.
Since the Cup Finals appearance, he's begun meddling too much in the team's affairs too much, turned himself into an awful spokesperson, and has leveraged the team + rink to offset losses elsewhere (business/divorce).
Matches his claims about the team's finances.
To be honest, he used to be a good owner.
Since the Cup Finals appearance, he's begun meddling too much in the team's affairs too much, turned himself into an awful spokesperson, and has leveraged the team + rink to offset losses elsewhere (business/divorce).
Why do you care about who EM likes? Who gives f**k!
A lot of the younger people on here dont realize that the Sens were an arse hair away from leaving the city and EM stepped up, bought the Sens and kept them in Ottawa. With that being said he does come across as "too involved" in hockey operations and a bit nutty sometimes (CSI on Matt Cooke?!?!).
Micklebot
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- Apr 27, 2010
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Is this for real? Honestly, your position is that his behaviour can't be judged against that of his peers because so long as he's willing to sign checks, and deal with the resulting public perception about his actions, it's fine, and unless I or any other person has been in in his position we can't have an opinion on the matter because we don't know for sure how we would behave in the same situation?
That's pretty rich.
Very Stable Genius
#WeLostOurKarlssons
Because people who support racist bigots and sexual predators inform my opinions about them.
Micklebot
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Very Stable Genius
#WeLostOurKarlssons
Its like an amuse-bouche of vomit, before a main of shit sandwiches.
LatteLarrys
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- Dec 27, 2013
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Fandlauer
Registered User
I think financially the team and the NHL has just outgrown him, and his eccentricity is starting to really damage the brand.
The guy cries poor constantly, even going on rivals radio stations to bash the market, then consistently says he will absolutely never sell the team, when everyone knows there are wealthier buyers willing to step in. He has the team for two reasons, it is making him a lot of money, regardless of how creative accounting tries to spin it, and I do believe he genuinely loves the team.
He has reached the point though that his meddling and penny pinching is actively handicapping our future and competitiveness. Trading picks to cover bonuses and small contracts is unacceptable. Meddling in contract such as Alfie and Turris is unacceptable. There is no doubt in my mind that this team will absolutely never win a cup with Melnyk as the owner.
He saved the team and for that I will always be grateful. If he bows out in the next few years and doesn't completely drive this franchise into the ground, I'd love to see the guy rightly honored and put in some ring of honor or retire his favorite number etc. Hopefully his stubbornness doesn't win out and he does step away soon.
The guy cries poor constantly, even going on rivals radio stations to bash the market, then consistently says he will absolutely never sell the team, when everyone knows there are wealthier buyers willing to step in. He has the team for two reasons, it is making him a lot of money, regardless of how creative accounting tries to spin it, and I do believe he genuinely loves the team.
He has reached the point though that his meddling and penny pinching is actively handicapping our future and competitiveness. Trading picks to cover bonuses and small contracts is unacceptable. Meddling in contract such as Alfie and Turris is unacceptable. There is no doubt in my mind that this team will absolutely never win a cup with Melnyk as the owner.
He saved the team and for that I will always be grateful. If he bows out in the next few years and doesn't completely drive this franchise into the ground, I'd love to see the guy rightly honored and put in some ring of honor or retire his favorite number etc. Hopefully his stubbornness doesn't win out and he does step away soon.
Micklebot
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I think this part gets forgotten. He seems like a guy that lets his emotions get the best of him at times when it comes to this team.
I also don't blame him for not wanting to sell the team despite there being wealthier suitors. Why should he sell?
I have no issues with him setting a budget for the team. Other teams do this too. I have no issues with him making money off the team, teams wouldn't exist if owners didn't make money off them. I do, however, agree that some of his comments and actions hurt the brand. That's a self inflicted wound that's avoidable.
coladin
Registered User
- Sep 18, 2009
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Many in this weak fan base exaggerate ad nauseum over Melnyk. Obsessive Compulsive people. He is an average owner. Now, if people want to whip themselves over his comments, go for it. I couldn't care less. People make stuff up, make it sound like fact...what is that term called?
He is not perfect, and probably shares some of the blame of the botched Alfie fiasco. At the time, I felt that Alfie wanted too much for the state of his game, but whatever, people have romantic notions more than level-headed ones I guess. Someone mentioned the Illitches. Now, if you see that brand spanking new arena, from the Illitches who are "loved" by Detroit, care to explain all the empty seats? But they love their owner , right?
I don't think he was wrong about what some coaches wanted to be paid. All the other stuff, again, I have other things to worry about than trivial musings from an owner who likes to talk. BFD.
He is not perfect, and probably shares some of the blame of the botched Alfie fiasco. At the time, I felt that Alfie wanted too much for the state of his game, but whatever, people have romantic notions more than level-headed ones I guess. Someone mentioned the Illitches. Now, if you see that brand spanking new arena, from the Illitches who are "loved" by Detroit, care to explain all the empty seats? But they love their owner , right?
I don't think he was wrong about what some coaches wanted to be paid. All the other stuff, again, I have other things to worry about than trivial musings from an owner who likes to talk. BFD.
Micklebot
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What exactly is the expectations of an average owner? I'd like to know what you are judging him against to come to that position.
Is he average financially in terms of his willingness to invest towards winning?
Is he average in terms of hiring/creating a positive front office?
Is he average in terms of creating a positive perception of the brand?
Are there any aspects at which he excels relative to his peers? Any you feel he falls behind at?
It seems many feel he puts forth a dishonest image for the franchise, he makes comments that undermine the position of the franchise, and he is too tight with the purse strings causing the team to trade off performance for profits.
FolignoQuantumLeap
Don't Hold The Door
He complains about the fanbase..Yet he does nothing to grow the team,except cry about casinos.And being treated unfairly....Whatever happened to spending money to make more money???Imagine what a cup or two would do for this team and the growth of our fanbase.
Telling everybody you are a budget team ,doesnt inspire anybody to believe you are in it, to do more than anything except exist as a franchise...Sorry I got better things to do than just pump money into an owner that just wants a cash donation....
Telling everybody you are a budget team ,doesnt inspire anybody to believe you are in it, to do more than anything except exist as a franchise...Sorry I got better things to do than just pump money into an owner that just wants a cash donation....
I can see how it would affect your ability to "like" the person however when evaluating someone's role and their effectiveness emotions shouldnt really factor in.
Erik Alfredsson
Beast Mode Cowboy!
- Jan 14, 2012
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Used to be good, has gotten worse and worse every year. He talks too much and gets involved too much.
Filatov2Kovalev2Bonk
Effortless sexy.
I spent thousands under Bryden and I have spent considerably less under Melnyk.
Differences:
"Hot Rod" Bryden was demonstrably cash-strapped, his own businesses were struggling. And that's fair. But he was honest about it. And he was really endearing. I'll never lose that vision of him with that red and black leather jacket with the Senators logo, the fist-pumping and so on. Bryden felt like part of our community because, well, he was one.
So when he said he needed to sell X,000 seasons so he could stay in the black, I joined to help. Again and again. It was worth it because we had a growing team that improved, and we felt like the little guy doing well.
Pan to Melnyk....
All bluster. Eagles in on a concert (Nobody f***ing likes the Eagles, man...) and grandiose statements that we wouldn't win just one Cup, but several, and certainly before Toronto would. It was kinda fun and charming at the time but overall he could not help himself. Worse than that he was never here, in Ottawa. He was in Barbados or in Toronto or...anywhere but here. And then when he needed to talk to City Council re: his casino he called them "aliens" or what not. Just disgraceful stuff. This is Ottawa Eugene. Be dignified, be classy, be quiet and be representative of us.
It's not even the budget, it's his constant crapping on us, the customers that are paying him. I'd be much more sympathetic if he just came out and said:
"Look guys, my financial situation has changed, we're going to keep as many of our great players as possible but sometimes we might have to let a middle-tier go."
But no, instead it's "STATEMENT!!!!" and stuff like this. So now we spend less, because all this screaming is draining and unfun.
We need a new owner, a quiet owner or group of owners that will never be seen or heard.
Differences:
"Hot Rod" Bryden was demonstrably cash-strapped, his own businesses were struggling. And that's fair. But he was honest about it. And he was really endearing. I'll never lose that vision of him with that red and black leather jacket with the Senators logo, the fist-pumping and so on. Bryden felt like part of our community because, well, he was one.
So when he said he needed to sell X,000 seasons so he could stay in the black, I joined to help. Again and again. It was worth it because we had a growing team that improved, and we felt like the little guy doing well.
Pan to Melnyk....
All bluster. Eagles in on a concert (Nobody f***ing likes the Eagles, man...) and grandiose statements that we wouldn't win just one Cup, but several, and certainly before Toronto would. It was kinda fun and charming at the time but overall he could not help himself. Worse than that he was never here, in Ottawa. He was in Barbados or in Toronto or...anywhere but here. And then when he needed to talk to City Council re: his casino he called them "aliens" or what not. Just disgraceful stuff. This is Ottawa Eugene. Be dignified, be classy, be quiet and be representative of us.
It's not even the budget, it's his constant crapping on us, the customers that are paying him. I'd be much more sympathetic if he just came out and said:
"Look guys, my financial situation has changed, we're going to keep as many of our great players as possible but sometimes we might have to let a middle-tier go."
But no, instead it's "STATEMENT!!!!" and stuff like this. So now we spend less, because all this screaming is draining and unfun.
We need a new owner, a quiet owner or group of owners that will never be seen or heard.
Gil Gunderson
Registered User
f*** him for wasting the team's talent. If he knows he can't spend as much as other teams to contend, look for a partnership or something at least. He complains to the media about how hard it is to just break even, but has no intention to give up any part of the team.
Can you blame fans for feeling pessimistic about the team ever winning a Cup? You don't become a perennial contender by half-assing your operations.
Can you blame fans for feeling pessimistic about the team ever winning a Cup? You don't become a perennial contender by half-assing your operations.
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Micklebot
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My concerns are mostly about when he appears to get involved in hockey ops decisions. It's a bad look when your owner appears to influence on ice acquisitions (kovalev) and coaching hires (Cameron).
It's possible that the rumours aren't true, but he doesn't do himself any favours with some of the crap he says to the media.
It's possible that the rumours aren't true, but he doesn't do himself any favours with some of the crap he says to the media.
Karl Prime
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- Feb 13, 2017
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He's become increasingly infuriating over the last 10 years. He saved the team and we're all thankful for that but that doesn't mean we can't rightfully complain about what he says to the media or how he handles certain issues (like when he blasted Cameron for starting O'Connor in the home opener and Dave said he felt like he was fired for two weeks).
