Melnyk, Senators taking a lot of hits
Failed mediation with arena plan adds to fallout from trading Stone
The last week has been particularly rocky for the Ottawa Senators. The latest blow came Wednesday when news broke that mediation to try to resolve a dispute over a proposed plan for a new downtown arena had failed. Here’s a look at what has transpired for the NHL’s last-place team:
Thursday: Four days before the NHL trade deadline, the Senators decide to make pending unrestricted free agents and top forwards Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel and Mark Stone healthy scratches in New Jersey. The Senators had said they were in contract talks with all three.
Friday: Just hours before hosting Columbus in Ottawa, the Senators ship Duchene to Columbus for forward prospects Vitaly Abramov and Jonathan Davidsson, a first-round pick in 2019 and a conditional firstround pick in 2020. The Senators had traded for Duchene in November 2017 when they thought they were Stanley Cup contenders, sending the Colorado Avalanche their firstround pick this year (which may prove to be first overall). Duchene’s first game with the Blue Jackets wasin Ottawa. The Senators lost 3-0.
Saturday: The Senatorssend Dzingel and a seventh-round pick to the Blue Jackets for forward Anthony Duclair and two second-round picks.
Sunday: The Senators lose 2-1 to the visiting Calgary Flames. Stone is a healthy scratch, as are defenceman Cody Ceci and forward Mikkel Boedker, raising further concerns.
Monday: The Senators send Stone to the Vegas Golden Knights in the biggest deal on trade deadline day. The Golden Knights give up top defence prospect Erik Brannstrom, centre Oscar Lindberg and a second-round selection in the 2020 draft just prior to the 3 p.m. deadline. Vegas also gets minor-league winger Tobias Lindberg in the trade. “It’s the players’ right if they want to stay or not stay,” Senators GM Pierre Dorion said. “We tried to sign (all of them).” Stone immediately agreed to an eight-year deal with Vegas, worth $9.5 million (U.S.) per season. Ceci and Boedker, meanwhile, were not traded.
Tuesday: Canada’s Heritage Minister said there would be no extension of a Thursday deadline to resolve a dispute over a plan to build a community featuring a proposed downtown arena. Pablo Rodriguez told reporters that the National Capital Commission’s deadline for the file is firm. “The NCC was very clear,” Rodriguez said. “There’s a deadline for February 28th and there will be no extension.” Hours later, the Senators lose 7-2 to the Washington Capitals.
Wednesday: Judge Warren Winkler, the mediator retained by the RendezVous LeBreton Group, advises the National Capital Commission that no settlement could be reached. Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, Trinity Development Group founder John Ruddy and GBA development and project management president Graham Bird — the partners in RendezVous LeBreton — had entered mediation to try to resolve differences. Melnyk’s Capital Sports Management Inc., filed a $700-million lawsuit against Ruddy and Bird in November. Ruddy responded with a $1-billion counterclaim. The Senators play at the Canadian Tire Centre in suburban Kanata.