MELNYK WILL SPEND WHEN TIME IS RIGHT

Eugene Melnyk is determined to get the Ottawa Senators back to being a competitor. And, he’s willing to spend down the road.

In a summary of Melnyk’s remarks released by the club Wednesday night from a corporate event at the Hockey Hall of Fame Tuesday, the Senators’ owner pledged to the people on hand that he’ll spend more on salaries when the club is closer to being in a more competitive position.

“The expectation is the rebuild will take another season or two from now,” the statement said.

Once GM Pierre Dorion feels he has the pieces in place to make the team competitive, Melnyk pledged he would spend close to the cap, and that could be as early as the 2021-22 campaign.

“The Senators will be all-in again for a five-year run of unparalleled success — where the team will plan to spend close to the NHL’s salary cap every year from 2021-25,” the statement said. “(Melnyk) reiterated that the Senators’ current rebuild is a blueprint on how to bring the Stanley Cup home to its rightful place in Ottawa.”

The Senators were well aware this rebuild wasn’t going to be easy, but Melnyk is pleased with the route the club has taken. Everybody is waiting to see what will happen with unrestricted free agents Matt Duchene and Mark Stone, but the Senators are trying to sign both players before the NHL trade deadline.

There were close to 200 people on hand to hear Melnyk’s remarks, and the release said he also highlighted the contributions of more than $105 million the club has made to local charities.