When did Sens fans Turn on Melnyk?

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

From what I can gather, Sens fans have grown to despise owner Eugene Melnyk, and perhaps rightfully so, the team is without question the worst it has been since he became owner, when you get schooled by Buffalo thee is a problem.

But there was a time when Melnyk was LOVED by the city of Ottawa, I remember in 2006 and 2007 how much excitement was in that city, even as somebody living in Burlington in 2006 and then moving to Fort Mac Alberta in January 2007, you could tell the excitment was there, the team was bringing in guys like Hasek, Heatley, they had Chara, Redden, Phillphs and they were pushing for a cup, they ade it all the way to the finals and then they ran into Bian Burke's Ducks and lost the cup in 5.

But everything seemed great Melnyk was loved, but over time the fans turned on him and what I want to know is when did that start? because it wasn't always that way.

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[PeterSidorkiewicz]

I can’t speak for other fans but for me it was the last couple of years. Maybe it’s his eccentrism getting old after awhile. He was kinda of lovable Uncle Eugene who would say stupid things, that’s Eugene being Eugene.

It morphed into him just because more and more embarrassing every time he opens his mouth. Then you hear rumors about him cutting staff and running the franchise on a tight budget that isn’t very NHL like. Season ticket holders complain that there’s no reps and no one gives a shit about them as customers and the marketing team feels like major corners have been cut.

Then there’s the stories of his restaurant in Barbados being closed randomly without telling employees and also NOT paying them for their work, this whole alleged Leeder severance package thing and now him professing his love for sexual assaulter Bill O Reilly.

Oh can’t forget the Travis Yost Ukraine hack which at the time I thought was insane, but now I have no idea.

Edit: I will add I don’t have a lot of love for most pro sports teams owners to begin with

 

[Paris in Flames]

Sometime around the time he opened his own investigation into the Karlsson injury?

Still waiting for those results.

 

[SenzZen]

 

[TheNewEra]

When he started to open his mouth more than usual

Starting point could be either the karlsson investigation or cost per point

 

[Shruggs Peterson]

"We have a finicky fan base and you’ve got to live with it." - Eugene Melnyk, 2013

"We have great fans, they are the best in the league! Sure, they can be a little high-strung and finicky at times, but I should know; what fan is more finicky than me? Also, I believe that funk is a positive attribute to have, especially if it's in a state of togetherness."

“We’re not the New York Rangers, we’re not the Toronto Maple Leafs, and I’m trying to keep ticket prices reasonable, because there’s a very delicate balance between ticket pricing, attendance and being able to put a competitive team (on the ice).” - Eugene Melnyk, 2013

On Alfredsson...

"It's something I promised our organization and our fans when we signed him (to his current contract) in 2005...I recently repeated that's what we wanted to get done, so that Daniel finishes his career in Ottawa." - Eugene Melnyk, 2008

"I know how much the fans and this community love Daniel Alfredsson, and love, of course, is something that's highly conditional on the actions of those whom we choose to love." - Eugene Melnyk, 2013


I have been a Sens fan since 2007 and in that time the man has changed.

 

[WesMcCauley]

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Sometime around the time he opened his own investigation into the Karlsson injury?

Still waiting for those results.

I'm out of the loop here, mind filling me in?

 

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

Some people didn’t like his outspoken ways, but I think the hate started around 2013 when news got out about the budget and internal cap.

I'm out of the loop here, mind filling me in?

After Cooke injured Karlsson in 2013 and didn’t get suspended, Melnyk said he was launching an investigation to determine the intent

 

[Sureves]

Some people didn’t like his outspoken ways, but I think the hate started around 2013 when news got out about the budget and internal cap.



After Cooke injured Karlsson in 2013 and didn’t get suspended, Melnyk said he was launching an investigation to determine the intent

Came here to post the top part. Turning point was absolutely when the internal cap started. No debate on that at all.

 

[danielpalfredsson]

Alfie-gate was the start of the Melnyk heel turn.

 

[NHL Dude 120]

For me it was the budget crap.

 

[KevinRedkey]

2013

 

[Stringer Bell]

He is much younger than I originally thought.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Around 2012-2013 with the budget. Pretty much started to feel like we couldn't win a Cup with this guy running the show. Also heard stories about how he treated his employees like shit.

The Turris situation pretty much added fuel to the fire, even though most of us had a pretty good idea of what was going on. His tweet at Bill O'Reilly pretty much confirmed what a scumbag he is.

Even though I'm not the biggest fan of Dorion's moves, it was pathetic seeing him pretty much take the blame for Melnyk today.

 

[pepty]

After the Sens were supposed to have started a rebuild Melnyk let it be known that the Sens were in fact now a budget team and instead of a rebuild it looked as though the team would be a sort of farm team for other teams, selling off the best players when they became too expensive.

But there were a bunch of things at more or less the same time. He wanted a casino but didn't get one and was bitter about it. He announced that he wouldn't involve the Sens in any more community events in the city,though that didn't last long...He sometimes went on Toronto radio and went on tirades about how badly he was treated by Ottawa politicians etc.

It was believed he was the driving force that sent Alfie out of town. A lot of people haven't forgiven him for that though having Alfie come back and have his sweater retired helped.

 

[Unlimited Chequing]

No matter how often (and randomly) this comes up, it makes me laugh

 

[NyQuil]

No matter how often (and randomly) this comes up, it makes me laugh

It should be a Canadian Heritage moment.

 

[Gnashville]

Still one of the most awesome hockey things ever!! Only Toronto telling us that cold water turns to ice can come close to this!!

 

[Unlimited Chequing]

It should be a Canadian Heritage moment.

A bad reenactment of a bad 300 reenactment? Two wrongs do make a right