The league will most likely look for a buyer that will keep the team in Ottawa. If they move the Sens from Ottawa, other teams in worse conditions that the Sens will want to move too. It sets a bad precedent. Melnyk is just cheap and has cash flows problems, the market can handle an NHL team.
I have no fear whatsoever of the team potentially moving. None.
The only fear I have is that if the only price that the BoG would be willing to approve a sale from an out-of-town buyer.
I don't think Melnyk will move the team himself.
His agent does. Duclair was one bad assignment away from the KHL. Let's not pretend fans are his motivation.Duclair is blocking shots , guys are trying hard to win, and no one cares.
Melnyk probably does not need BoG approval to relocate. Teams in other leagues with that bylaw have done it, so I'm not sure what he's waiting for.I do. Always have.
I think a lot of people, over the years, have misunderstood my intentions. I only care about having a team that I am crazy about , in my city. I was 18, in the Pius parking lot when we all looked at each other , stunned that we were getting an NHL team.
I don’t trust this egomaniac and I think he is building a case to move it. He won’t sell it. From what i hear, he will not even consider it. His first choice is to find a better market. If the fans still went , it may demonstrate that the market is strong in spite of horrible ownership. Apathy points to a bigger, more dangerous problem.
So, yeah, I may be a pain at times . But my heart is in the right place. I knew what those empty seats meant during the playoffs, and nothing has changed my perspective . In the deepest recesses of my brain, I can rationalize that the Chabot deal was not for us, it was for him to go to the BOG, state his case how he is doing all the right things and the media is running him out of town, ruining his business and needs to relocate.
You can all say that the chances of moving are next to none. I wish I were as secure as you all. This guy is a loose cannon, a spiteful person, and he is going to try band stick it to the city.
Florida has sweetheart deals, they survive as it is. Arizona has been propped up so many times.
If there is someone out there from the NHL who would say, no matter what, this team is not moving, then I don’t care if it is myself and my kids watching the team.
I like the players who try and win for us. I know smartasses say they are well paid, first class treatment etc., but these are all big kids and I think my point stands. Stone leaves and talks of the great fan support. Duchene talks about Nashville and their crazy fans. I know we are good fans too.
Duclair is blocking shots , guys are trying hard to win, and no one cares. So, it bothers me.
Leaf fans supported horrible ownership. Oilers too. I know Chicago didn’t, but it took a long time for them to stop supporting the Wirtz regime.
Anyways, not going to post in this thread anymore.
Melnyk extending a contract to Chabot doesn't really prove anything to the BOG when he is cutting costs everywhere else. That doesn't show that he is doing the right thing. That shows he is trying to create a facade and I am pretty sure if fans can see through that bullshit than higher ups would as well.I do. Always have.
I think a lot of people, over the years, have misunderstood my intentions. I only care about having a team that I am crazy about , in my city. I was 18, in the Pius parking lot when we all looked at each other , stunned that we were getting an NHL team.
I don’t trust this egomaniac and I think he is building a case to move it. He won’t sell it. From what i hear, he will not even consider it. His first choice is to find a better market. If the fans still went , it may demonstrate that the market is strong in spite of horrible ownership. Apathy points to a bigger, more dangerous problem.
So, yeah, I may be a pain at times . But my heart is in the right place. I knew what those empty seats meant during the playoffs, and nothing has changed my perspective . In the deepest recesses of my brain, I can rationalize that the Chabot deal was not for us, it was for him to go to the BOG, state his case how he is doing all the right things and the media is running him out of town, ruining his business and needs to relocate.
You can all say that the chances of moving are next to none. I wish I were as secure as you all. This guy is a loose cannon, a spiteful person, and he is going to try band stick it to the city.
Florida has sweetheart deals, they survive as it is. Arizona has been propped up so many times.
If there is someone out there from the NHL who would say, no matter what, this team is not moving, then I don’t care if it is myself and my kids watching the team.
I like the players who try and win for us. I know smartasses say they are well paid, first class treatment etc., but these are all big kids and I think my point stands. Stone leaves and talks of the great fan support. Duchene talks about Nashville and their crazy fans. I know we are good fans too.
Duclair is blocking shots , guys are trying hard to win, and no one cares. So, it bothers me.
Leaf fans supported horrible ownership. Oilers too. I know Chicago didn’t, but it took a long time for them to stop supporting the Wirtz regime.
Anyways, not going to post in this thread anymore.
I actually met Balsillie in the spring. Super nice guy. Would much rather have him owning the team than Melnyk. Assuming of course that he gave up any idea of moving the team.Ask Jim Balsille how that worked out for him.
If you look at Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Washington in their "rebuilding years", they still had top 6 veterans putting up 60-70 points playing with the rookies.This whole "we're in a rebuild and people should expect to lose" narrative also coincidentally ignores WHY we're in a rebuild (because we sold off the players that could help us win now in the interests of saving a dollar.) I don't see anybody upset with the concept of a rebuild – I see fans upset with the way we got here. Fan unrest isn't a means to stick it to the players, it's a means to vote with our wallets. It's as close to a vote of non-confidence as we can give to the team's management. It sucks that players are caught in the middle, but we have no more direct way of making our frustrations known.
Anyone have any actual numbers from the first couple games?
Alright.
1) Anyone who still thinks the team will be moved is just way out of touch with reality.
2) Potential buyers stand to make a fortune if LeBreton Flats is still on the table
3) The NHL won't let Melnyk sell at any price as it would/could devalue other franchises and make new franchises balk at the price the NHL is asking
4) Of course, Bettman/Daly won't condemn the owner publicly.
5) However, I'd strongly recommend them to shut up. Fans feel alienated by Melnyk, wouldn't be good to feel ignored by the league.
6) I don't think engaging Coladin is worth anyone's time.
I think it’s breathtakingly naive to think anybody other than Ottawa deeply cares if an NHL team is in Ottawa. Of course the team could be lost/moved.
What do you mean by actual numbers? Paid tickets? Actual butts in seats? The official numbers were 15,135 and 9,204. Can safely assume that the butts in seats numbers are less than the official numbers. Ottawa Rising!
Could you tell me where you got those numbers? That way i can follow along myself throughout the year
I think it’s breathtakingly naive to think anybody other than Ottawa deeply cares if an NHL team is in Ottawa. Of course the team could be lost/moved.
All it takes is one US market doing the legwork to have an NHL team and a continued sag in attendance to make it an issue.
I think it would be incredibly, radically myopic of the league to identify Ottawa as a team in jeopardy, when the root of most issues here is obvious and solvable, over other teams that have multiple decades of revolving ownership, an exhaustive number of measures taken to try and make hockey work within their markets, and a record of abject failure in almost all ventures to create a sustainable and competitive atmosphere.
I agree with your outlook but TV money seems to be the holy grail on the business side of things.
Arizona was bailed out again and again in no small part due to its importance for TV coverage in the US.
If the bottom line is my main concern, if Ottawa isn't doing well and I have a US city with an arena and potential ownership, I have to look at it.
Now this is worst case scenario, I don't believe this is likely. I just don't think it is very unlikely. I am a cynical ***hole though