‘I AM NOT SELLING — PERIOD’
Melnyk lays Sens rumours to rest
SENATORS BEAT THE RANGERS 3-2: STORY, B2
There’s no “For sale” sign on the Ottawa Senators.
Team owner Eugene Melnyk told Postmedia in an email on Wednesday night he wanted to set the record straight about reports his team had been sold, rumours captain Erik Karlsson is being traded and to respond to comments by former Ottawa centre Kyle Turris.
“I am NOT selling the team — period,” said Melnyk in the email. “My kids (had) first call on the franchise long ago.”
Melnyk, 58, said the source of the talk he’s selling may be the result of a routine refinancing of the team’s debt he’s working on right now.
“Let me set the record straight. I have no idea how a reporter fabricated a fiction about my selling the team,” Melnyk said. “These stories pop up out of nowhere, probably from someone ‘hearing something.’
“(The) only thing I can think of is our routine refinancing of our debt involves a financial ‘road show.’ Virtually every major Canadian, international and American bank has attended one of over 20 presentations in Toronto, Ottawa and New York.
“This involves accountants, bankers and lawyers. I’m not directly involved in this process, except for the occasional visit and greetings. Hence, (this is) where the sale story must have come from.”
Melnyk said part of the reason the Senators requested Karlsson’s 10-team “no-trade” list was because of the refinancing.
“This is where the (Karlsson) contract request emanated from,” Melnyk said. “ALL material contracts are reviewed in a process called due diligence — from snow removal to food and beverage to players.”
Melnyk added, jokingly: “I assure you (Karlsson) is ‘material.’ ”
Melnyk also addressed Turris’s accusations that the club’s owner didn’t want him in Ottawa. Turris told The Canadian Press on Tuesday in Vancouver that, “It’s tough because I think management did want to sign me, but I think that the owner (Melnyk) didn’t. And that was his decision.”
Later on Tuesday, Ian Mendes of TSN tweeted that Senators GM Pierre Dorion said: “Everything in the hockey department goes through me — not Mr. Melnyk,” to which Turris’s wife, Julie, tweeted “lol.”
Melnyk said he pays Dorion “big bucks” so that he can manage hockey operations.
“He makes the decisions and only has to get a sign-off from me when it involves the movement of a A or B player — coming in or going out,” Melnyk said. “I can’t remember ever overriding a Pierre Dorion decision.
“He has the grit and the passion to do what’s right for the club, and right or wrong, he takes the applause and the boos. He does an excellent job. I’m pleased with his performance.”
Melnyk also said he believes coach Guy Boucher and the staff are doing “a terrific job” and is confident the Senators can get back on track for a playoff spot.
He ended his email statement by emphasizing that he’d rather fans and critics focus on the excitement of an NHL outdoor game in Ottawa, an event that took a lot of lobbying to make a reality.
The Senators will face the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night at Lansdowne Park in front of more than 36,000 people.
“I understand that it may be a slow news month, but some of the nonsense is laughable,” Melnyk said. “Let’s concentrate on some of the good things I do decide on — like bringing an Outdoor Game to Ottawa.
“Yes, that was my call — and with a financial guarantee! I guess people quickly forget.”