Here's Hoping....

[HF Reader]

I think there are a whole bunch of contributing factors

You have to start with the premise that we aren't generating enough revenue to spent amongst the top teams. If you took the average expenses from team 6 thru 15, forgetting the ig spenders, we dont generate enough revenue to spend at those levels. And Melnyk clearly appears unable or unwilling to spend at those levels.

To answer your question.... 100% paid attendance at Ottawa's ticket prices... i think we still have a problem although ckearly not the problem we currently have.

This new bonus heavy contract structure is a real challenge

Thanks
Makes me wonder if the owners during the last CBA negotiation were lacking in creativity and didn't foresee the bonus "problem" or if the wealthier teams knew it would give them a competitive advantage.

 

[HF Reader]

I think the last ones I did was Grade 8.

Congratulations. Grade 8 is a strong accomplishment.

 

[NyQuil]

Congratulations. Grade 8 is a strong accomplishment.

LOL, that's where I stopped.

I picked the pieces but never went through the examination.

 

[HF Reader]

I’m not sure why people don’t understand this (I guess lack of business/life experience). Lowering gate revenues just reduce the team cash flow. It’s obvious with the stars firesale that there’s already a cash flow problem. All it does is encouraging/force him to reduce operation costs further more.

My theory (and I think it’s logical and evident) is that he will pay the team debt loans while making the Lebreton project work to ensure he makes the best ROI when he sells. When does that happen? That’s hard to say, it could be tomorrow, next year, 2 years, 3 years, more? We’ll see, if I had to guess maybe 2 years

All this « not going to games » is cute and everything but really doesn’t change much in the end, Melnyk’s plan was already made. It’s a business straightening plan, a preparation for a sale.

Selling the team after Seattle expansion fee, after the lockout, when the team debt is paid, when the team is starting to rise again and a brand new arena downtown project is underway (casino/condo towers etc is just gravy)... it makes a lot of sense from a business standpoint.

In the meanwhile, his operation costs (roster, coaching, management, etc) are so low (relatively speaking) that it’s naive to think gate revenues will affect him much (plus CTC makes money from other venues). He’s already prepared for this. Just on the roster, he will save 25 M$ per year vs precedent budget. Plus, I even think Boucher might be kept 1 or 2 more years if cheap. Dorion already re-upped 3 years.

I agree with the ROI goal and your related conclusions.

I believe that in Melnyk's mind he didn't trade Mark Stone, a heart-and-soul mentor for a rebuild on Monday. Rather he jettisoned a $10.00 million (US) lockout protected, bonus-laden contract.


The only point I want to make relates to your comment about "not going to games" being "cute". In my business/life experience I have learned that for me the fewer people with Melnyk's character in my life the happier I am. I can't divorce Melnyk from the team so that is why I don't go any more.

I was never a big spender so I doubt he cares.

 

[HF Reader]

LOL, that's where I stopped.

I picked the pieces but never went through the examination.

Still I admire your accomplishment. I started when I was 38, mainly jazz and blues, and passed two conservatory exams.

 

[NyQuil]

Still I admire your accomplishment. I started when I was 38, mainly jazz and blues, and passed two conservatory exams.

I have a lot of respect for people who take up an instrument late in life.

I started at 5, but now I'm enjoying jamming with friends and in duos and trios. Learning to sing and play was "interesting".

I took up guitar about 10 years ago just so I'd have something a little more portable. There's great satisfaction because the improvement happens so quickly.

 

[HF Reader]

I have a lot of respect for people who take up an instrument late in life.

I started at 5, but now I'm enjoying jamming with friends and in duos and trios. Learning to sing and play was "interesting".

I took up guitar about 10 years ago just so I'd have something a little more portable. There's great satisfaction because the improvement happens so quickly.

It is tough as an adult. I played in about 15 recitals with a bass player and drummer. My greatest sense of musicianship came during my grade 1 conservatory exam. Playing "The Bird on the Windowsill" I forgot the piece part way through and improvised for a few bars until I remembered the piece. Then finished it. The jazz/blues training was ingrained enough to pull that off.

All the best with the guitar.

 

[JD1]

I have a lot of respect for people who take up an instrument late in life.

I started at 5, but now I'm enjoying jamming with friends and in duos and trios. Learning to sing and play was "interesting".

I took up guitar about 10 years ago just so I'd have something a little more portable. There's great satisfaction because the improvement happens so quickly.

I played piano as a kid. passed the grade 4 exams. was working on grade 5 and well ... just kind of stopped playing. looking back what a fool I was

I started playing guitar in my 40s. I love it. my weekly jam sessions with the boys are the best.

I have a really nice electric piano that I bought for the kids. I often sit at the piano to figure something out so that I know what I am trying to do on the guitar

it's kind of like I understand a piano but can only play a guitar if that makes sense.

 

[HF Reader]

I played piano as a kid. passed the grade 4 exams. was working on grade 5 and well ... just kind of stopped playing. looking back what a fool I was

I started playing guitar in my 40s. I love it. my weekly jam sessions with the boys are the best.

I have a really nice electric piano that I bought for the kids. I often sit at the piano to figure something out so that I know what I am trying to do on the guitar

it's kind of like I understand a piano but can only play a guitar if that makes sense.

Piano is a good instrument to supplement others it seems to me. And great to introduce your children to piano, and music.

I have never tried another instrument but the piano always seemed to me to be 'user friendly" or more "direct mapping of notes to the the instrument" (this note equals that key) if that makes sense.
Grade 4 is a good level. I stopped after ten years of jazz/blues and was working to grade 3 piano but it became more like a job. I still dabble but only for my own interest.
Sax would have been cool....

 

[JD1]

Piano is a good instrument to supplement others it seems to me. And great to introduce your children to piano, and music.

I have never tried another instrument but the piano always seemed to me to be 'user friendly" or more "direct mapping of notes to the the instrument" (this note equals that key) if that makes sense.
Grade 4 is a good level. I stopped after ten years of jazz/blues and was working to grade 3 piano but it became more like a job. I still dabble but only for my own interest.
Sax would have been cool....

what's interesting is talent versus no talent.

one of my kids is very talented. wicked sax player, self taught piano. hears music, knows what notes she is hearing, composes music.

me on the other hand. ... no talent. I can mechanically play both a piano and a guitar but I certainly can't hear something and play it other than simple piano melodies.

 

[HF Reader]

what's interesting is talent versus no talent.

one of my kids is very talented. wicked sax player, self taught piano. hears music, knows what notes she is hearing, composes music.

me on the other hand. ... no talent. I can mechanically play both a piano and a guitar but I certainly can't hear something and play it other than simple piano melodies.

The talent you describe with your daughter is one of those God-given things. Good for her to have it (and I suspect it is a pleasure for you to see/hear her talent!). You sound supportive of what she can accomplish. Well done.

 

[Xspyrit]

I agree with the ROI goal and your related conclusions.

I believe that in Melnyk's mind he didn't trade Mark Stone, a heart-and-soul mentor for a rebuild on Monday. Rather he jettisoned a $10.00 million (US) lockout protected, bonus-laden contract.


The only point I want to make relates to your comment about "not going to games" being "cute". In my business/life experience I have learned that for me the fewer people with Melnyk's character in my life the happier I am. I can't divorce Melnyk from the team so that is why I don't go any more.

I was never a big spender so I doubt he cares.

Oh don’t worry, I’m not saying I endorse what Melnyk does, he’s in the wrong business because we the fans, are « paying the bill » for his financial struggle and his business plan. It’s not like a business where there’s no fans that you need to make happy. He unfortunately doesn’t care about « our feelings » anymore, he’s doing what he has to do to prepare for the best ROI possible.

I’d say go to games if you want to cheer for our young players; don’t go because Melnyk doesn’t deserve our financing. Either is fine to me, just saying that it won’t make a big difference in the end, maybe it could delay the eventual sale a little because I suspect every revenue will be used to pay the debt and operation costs.

Of course I could be wrong but it seems to be the only logical explanation to me.

Yes he reduced expenses but the Sens still have to spend to the NHL cap floor which next year will be over $60 million US. So in effect he is only cutting salary maybe $15 million from this year and that could be completely offset by a huge drop in gate receipts. Add in the loss of corporate sponsorships etc EM's pockets will have even less money than now.

Luckily for him, MacArthur and Gaborik contracts are PURE GOLD right now, it adds 9.5 to our cap without them even suiting up for a game. I suspect we will acquire at least another of those contracts this summer. By my calculations, I think the roster will cost between 40 and 45 M$ next year. That’s like 30 M$ less than the vast majority of teams; so it offsets easily the loss in gates revenues.

 

[HF Reader]

Oh don’t worry, I’m not saying I endorse what Melnyk does, he’s in the wrong business because we the fans, are « paying the bill » for his financial struggle and his business plan. It’s not like a business where there’s no fans that you need to make happy. He unfortunately doesn’t care about « our feelings » anymore, he’s doing what he has to do to prepare for the best ROI possible.

I’d say go to games if you want to cheer for our young players; don’t go because Melnyk doesn’t deserve our financing. Either is fine to me, just saying that it won’t make a big difference in the end, maybe it could delay the eventual sale a little because I suspect every revenue will be used to pay the debt and operation costs.

Of course I could be wrong but it seems to be the only logical explanation to me.



Luckily for him, MacArthur and Gaborik contracts are PURE GOLD right now, it adds 9.5 to our cap without them even suiting up for a game. I suspect we will acquire at least another of those contracts this summer. By my calculations, I think the roster will cost between 40 and 45 M$ next year. That’s like 30 M$ less than the vast majority of teams; so it offsets easily the loss in gates revenues.

Fair enough, and I make no judgements on what an individual fan chooses to do.