TSN: Bettman discusses LeBreton Flats, flatly denies Senators relocation question

[Engineer]

Reporter: "Are you worried that maybe the moving trucks could be coming any day soon?"
Bettman: "No. [shakes head] No."
Reporter: "Why is that?"
Bettman: "Because, there's no reason to be."

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/bettma...y-denies-senators-relocation-question~1628450

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[topshelf15]

As expected...States the obvious and little else....

 

[danielpalfredsson]

Doesn't Gary Bettman know anything about how grocery stores operate?

 

[Lenny the Lynx]

SAVE US BATMAN

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Sounds like a standard Bettman interview. He’s not going to say anything.

 

[Speatleysson]

Bettman knows the business better than anyone. I see him and daly cleaning up this team/management issue this offseason with the full intent of keeping Ottawa in Ottawa. As much hate as bettman gets, I foresee us sens fans praising him for what's to come.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

More likely the fellas in the white coats show up at CTC than the moving trucks.

 

[PeterSidorkiewicz]

Bettman knows the business better than anyone. I see him and daly cleaning up this team/management issue this offseason with the full intent of keeping Ottawa in Ottawa. As much hate as bettman gets, I foresee us sens fans praising him for what's to come.

Well, he helped Ottawa with the Bryden situation as well. The NHL policy on moving a franchise nowadays is pretty straight forward IMO. It's a final resolution to any franchise problem when all other options have been exhausted.

 

[JessicaN]

More likely the fellas in the white coats show up at CTC than the moving trucks.

Melnyk's forensic investigators?

 

[GrantLemons]

Meh. Gary wont say shit unless something has already gone down. Wasnt he denying the Thrashers were moving to Winnipeg like a couple of days before the deal was announced?

His "He is very focused on looking for what he has to do, and what his best options are under the circumstances" quote is pretty interesting tho.

 

[solidprospect]

Not a rebuild though.

 

[solidprospect]

Bettman on the Senators: "Teams go through ebbs and flows, both on the ice and with their fan bases. And Eugene Melnyk is doing what is expected of him as an owner…ownership for any franchise at any given point in time may think it’s time for a rebuild."

 

[Emerica]

Meh. Gary wont say **** unless something has already gone down. Wasnt he denying the Thrashers were moving to Winnipeg like a couple of days before the deal was announced?

His "He is very focused on looking for what he has to do, and what his best options are under the circumstances" quote is pretty interesting tho.

Yea that quote and this one too

“Eugene is doing what is expected of him as an owner in terms of meeting the team’s obligations.”

Sure didn’t seem like a glowing endorsement.
Also said they didn’t get asked to step in but would not hesitate to step in if needed or asked. Not sure if he was referencing to the arena downtown or in general but interesting to hear nonetheless.

 

[The Lewler]

What a nothingburger interview.

Relocation is such a red herring. Noone is discussing that.

Everyone is discussing the chaos in the ownership box.

The only thing I took as speculatively interesting is that he didn't even come close to giving Melnyk any kind of strong endorsement.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

@supsens

 

[OmniSens]

I would sacrifice a whole season and go into a lockout if it meant guaranteeing Melnyk sells and steps away.

 

[Wallet Inspector]

I'd have to imagine if you're Bettman, you can't be happy about Melnyk f***ing up a perfectly good hockey market like Ottawa. Teams like Arizona struggle because hockey isn't that popular down there, with Ottawa it is solely because of crappy ownership.

 

[swiftwin]

Bettman is never going to say anything of any substance to the public.

However, you know for a fact, that behind the scenes, he's livid with Melnyk.

 

[solidprospect]

Only the sens go through ebs and flows.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

Melnyk's forensic investigators?

I was thinking more forensic psychologists.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Sounds like a standard Bettman interview. He’s not going to say anything.

He said relocation wasn't something to be concerned about. That is pretty big considering Melnyk threatened us with relocation.

 

[Upgrayedd]

Maybe it isn't the fans and the city after all?

 

[hawthy]

I guess we’ll see how serious the city (the people) is about not supporting a Melnyk-owned Senators. Refreshing, I guess, that relocation isn’t a thing (not that we didn’t already know), but if Bettman is serious in his assessment of this being an ebb/flow scenario, I’m legitimately worried. If what he said is accurate to his beliefs, we’re f***ed in a muddy puddle of toxic waste. Of course, he wouldn’t say anything different if there was something ongoing, but wow. The Sens are just....wow....

 

[branch]

Only the sens go through ebs and flows.

Why are you looking for a response so badly?

Of course the Commissioner of the NHL is going to give a diplomatic response, you're dreaming if you expect otherwise.

 

[Caeldan]

Only the sens go through ebs and flows.

Because Toronto never had the Ballard years. Or Chicago and "Dollar" Bill Wirtz. Pittsburgh was never a prime candidate for relocation due to poor attendance.

It sucks to be that franchise in the moment, but easily half of the existing franchises in the league have been through something similar in their lifetime.

Nashville had Boots Del Biaggio. Tampa had co-owners who sued each other. Etc etc, etc.