To many fair weather fans will never accept this, as being a fact of life in one of the NHLs smallest markets, that is also unable to tap into the regions largest employers, for any type of revenue.
These fans can't wrap their heads around this simple fact, a franchise in Ottawa cannot be run and operated like the franchises in Montreal and Toronto, and every single USA based team.
The only hope for the long term survival of this franchise, is to move it to Lebreton Flats, where it's going to be way more accessible to a greater percentage of their customer base. A number of excuses that current customers use now to not attend, will be eliminated, those who base their entire fandom on who the owner is, will continue to stay away.
See, here's the thing - nobody expects Ottawa to be run like Toronto and Montreal.
But what fans do expect is smart, responsible management. Ottawa was a "have-not" in the late 90's and early 00's, and they had some heartbreaking disappointments on the ice, but the fans stuck with them. Why? Because everyone knew that even though resources were limited, they were being allocated in the most efficient way possible.
Now? There's no plan, and there hasn’t been one.
If you’re a small-market team that can’t spend with the big boys, then you need to hoard draft picks and prospects. The more picks you have, the better chance you have young players contribute on entry-level contracts.
What have we done?
Two years ago, we traded a 22 year old 50 point center for a 28 year old 50 point center. And we threw in a 2nd round pick.
Then, we traded a good prospect for 36 year-old grinder and proceeded to use our limited payroll to re-sign him to an over-market contract. A year later we bought him out.
Last year, we traded our first line center who was approaching free-agency for another first-line center who’s also approaching free-agency. We added a 1st round pick, 3rd round pick and our last 1st round prospect.
Then the season went to shit. Sure. None of us predicted it, but it happened. Dorion hunkered down and said we’re going to rebuild, focusing on picks and prospects. The right thing to say!
But what did he do when he had to trade our best goal scorer? He traded him for a 28 year old 3rd liner and AHL defenseman! No picks or prospects to be seen!
Karlsson was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Fans are upset because they see clear incompetence from management, not because we have lower resources.