He wants a chance to win and that won't be happening in Ottawa any time soon.

Well I never said Giroux > Pageau, and while I don't necessarily agree with spatso's conclusion that the Senators are one of the 'most attractive' assets, I think they could be quite sought after.

Clearly, they're not the Leafs or the Habs - essentially, licenses to print money for all eternity. But if the franchise can be had cheaply, they would be (as spatso said) fairly low-risk high-reward.

I mean, they're not Toronto, but they're not Florida either... And didn't the Panthers just get new ownership?
- Mr_Clean

Good investments are never measured in absolute dollar terms. Distressed assets are always a special class of investment and for the guys that are good at it there are substantial profits to be made. Tax policy, book debt and cash flow are hugely important. Melnyk bought the Senators and the Kanata lands at a discount rate. He pulled hundreds of millions out of the team through debt financing and he structured the substantial cash flow exactly the way he wanted.

So, even though they cutting back on the long term debt in the form of player contracts they are sinking big money into lease hold improvements in the building. All that seems upside down unless your the potential buyer of the asset.

Buyers want a good modern building, they don't want broken down players on long term deals. Remember corporate losses and shareholder loans are gold to a new investor.

Meh .This breakup needed to happen ,time for a new group of senator players to try and win it all .This is ottawa,s first ever core rebuild,people need to relax and just watch it play out .Sure EM is a tool ,but BM has done some pretty good work here.We have potential everywhere, on D,up front and in nets,Guy like Lehner,Ceci,Stone,Lazar etc,etc .We are not as far off as most think tbh

Come on guys this is not fair. Your putting me in the position of defending what Melnyk is doing. I did not apply for this job. The time to complain was last summer.

But our bed has been made. We are getting a financial make over and the team is being rebuilt as we watch.

I like what I see. I think everyone will be pleased by the final result. I love the team. I think it is better with a good second line center rather than Spezza.

The Melnyk sale of his race horses continues. The farm and stables will be the last to go. But I am sure he already has a buyer. The process for the Senators is the same. Melnyk has managed this whole process far better than I expected. I respect that. He is getting his financial affairs in order I can cut him some slack.

I did enjoy the Eagles. Mrs. Spatso's favorite concert other than for Bruce Springsteen.

I respect that he doesn't want too spend to the cap and be a team that's stuck with huge contracts , but too expect this team to make it deep into the playoffs with young players like he wants is too much to ask.. Dish out some money cheap (frank)

Come on guys this is not fair. Your putting me in the position of defending what Melnyk is doing. I did not apply for this job. The time to complain was last summer.

But our bed has been made. We are getting a financial make over and the team is being rebuilt as we watch.

I like what I see. I think everyone will be pleased by the final result. I love the team. I think it is better with a good second line center rather than Spezza.

The Melnyk sale of his race horses continues. The farm and stables will be the last to go. But I am sure he already has a buyer. The process for the Senators is the same. Melnyk has managed this whole process far better than I expected. I respect that. He is getting his financial affairs in order I can cut him some slack.

I did enjoy the Eagles. Mrs. Spatso's favorite concert other than for Bruce Springsteen.
- spatso

I want to see Ryan parked beside Zbad on that second line,iam thinking this has the potential to be a very good tandem

I like the makeup of the top6 more or less another vet top 6 winger would be good.The bottom 6 is where we need the help ,another hard forward that can play would be good and veteran center that can pk

He wants a chance to win and that won't be happening in Ottawa any time soon.
- keatondixon

I just hope we dont trade him to a team who ends up winning 2 stanley cups in 3 years while we win nothing, that would suck

Spezza wants out because the Senators are garbage.

Spezza wants out because the Senators are garbage.
- Allan Bester

Better than the leafs

Come on guys this is not fair. Your putting me in the position of defending what Melnyk is doing. I did not apply for this job. The time to complain was last summer.

But our bed has been made. We are getting a financial make over and the team is being rebuilt as we watch.

I like what I see. I think everyone will be pleased by the final result. I love the team. I think it is better with a good second line center rather than Spezza.

The Melnyk sale of his race horses continues. The farm and stables will be the last to go. But I am sure he already has a buyer. The process for the Senators is the same. Melnyk has managed this whole process far better than I expected. I respect that. He is getting his financial affairs in order I can cut him some slack.

I did enjoy the Eagles. Mrs. Spatso's favorite concert other than for Bruce Springsteen.
- spatso

To be honest, I'm a little confused that you are defending Melnyk now.

It's fine that he is trying to get his finances in order, if that is what he is doing, but it's coming at a cost. Like I've said all along, this is all happening at a very convenient time with the Sens rebuilding. If we were contending, this garbage would still be happening and people would be much less diplomatic.

I want to see Ryan parked beside Zbad on that second line,iam thinking this has the potential to be a very good tandem

- top shelf 15

We don't even have a real first line and you want to see Ryan on the 2nd line?

You guys must all be smoking something good. An owner with money, we have Spezza and Hemsky and this team is playoff bound. Now, we have all bought exactly what they are selling, we've lowered our expectations, and we are back to rebuilding.

What's really the new info here? We all want to have ownership committed to winning. Right now Ottawa isn't in a position to ice a stanley cup contender no matter who we pick up in free agency. This however will not be the case in three seasons. Then the guys like Lazar Turris, Karlsson, Lehner, Ryan, Ceci, Weircioch, Zibanejad and Puempel (hopefully Cowen, Classen, Wilkstrad and MacArthur will be positively contributing in lesser roles too) will all be ready for big roles and be on good contracts that will allow the organization to get the other complimentary pieces to support these guys in building a true cup contender. If we were to ink Spezza to a 5+ year contract that would mean we would not be able to spend that money elsewhere when we need to be smarter about every dollar we have. In 17-18 we will be a cap team (or very close to) and expected to win.

My problem is right now Melnyk is being super cheap and not giving Murray the flexibility to make the team decent now.

In three seasons from now we won't have plugs like Neil, Phillips, Greening, Condra, Gryba, Methot and Michalek). Also some other guys that will still be here but having supportive roles will be Pageau, Da Costa (assuming the team is smart enough to stick with him), Stone and Hoffman.

The future of the Sens is very, very bright but it will take a while before our time is now! Be patient.

We don't even have a real first line and you want to see Ryan on the 2nd line?

You guys must all be smoking something good. An owner with money, we have Spezza and Hemsky and this team is playoff bound. Now, we have all bought exactly what they are selling, we've lowered our expectations, and we are back to rebuilding.
- sensfan1984

I think his point is that it's better to spreads the offense out over two lines, then simply loading up on one line.


And how do you figure we lowered our expectations? We had spezza all of last year, and hemsky for about 1/3 of it, and didn't make the playoffs. With them next year, we're MAYBE a fringe playoff team, and an easy 1st round opponent.

Money is obviously an issue, but at the same time, they're building a solid all-around team, that's young, and will be together for a long time

I think his point is that it's better to spreads the offense out over two lines, then simply loading up on one line.


And how do you figure we lowered our expectations? We had spezza all of last year, and hemsky for about 1/3 of it, and didn't make the playoffs. With them next year, we're MAYBE a fringe playoff team, and an easy 1st round opponent.

Money is obviously an issue, but at the same time, they're building a solid all-around team, that's young, and will be together for a long time
- sensarmy_11

Yep u got as per usual,Zibby will need a mentor to bounce ideas off of.Insulation is the name of the game.Hense the hard forward talk from BM .Lazar will need some of the same,he plays a grinding style that may rub some players the wrong way.We dont need Lazar playing scared.Also stone looked fine on turris ,s wing so leave him there

Florida will probably have a bigger payroll than the Sens next year. Eugene
needs to be given the boot. He can take his 55 million cap and shove it!
- GardinerExpress

They will probably also pass them in the standings.

#smallmarket.

Tim Paniccio has listed Ottawa as a potential landing spot for Vinny Lecavlier. Quite frankly I think it's hog wash, but I'm more interested in Sens fans thoughts.

Turris and Zib are your two big centers moving forward, but would Lecavlier be an interesting option if we are anywhere from 25-50% of his salary? Term sucks, but you'd have a legit, veteran center locked into a nice cap hit for a few seasons.

I think he's garbage, but id even be willing to take Greening back in that deal.

You guys definitely need a new owner though. Spezza supposedly leaving because of an internal budget is bad news for acquiring future talent, be it trade or FA. Fans deserve better.

Meh this talk of us being a bottom feeder is a bit much tbh .We have some great young talent starting to emerge.The defense will improve,it was the youngest top 6 in the league last year.Gryba,Cowen,Ceci and Weircoch dont even have 200 games under their belts yet.The forwards boast some nice skill as well,Zbad,Stone ,Lazar ,Puemple etc.We are fine ,a few minor tweaks and some growth and we could be in better shape than most of the east tbh

Tim Paniccio has listed Ottawa as a potential landing spot for Vinny Lecavlier. Quite frankly I think it's hog wash, but I'm more interested in Sens fans thoughts.

Turris and Zib are your two big centers moving forward, but would Lecavlier be an interesting option if we are anywhere from 25-50% of his salary? Term sucks, but you'd have a legit, veteran center locked into a nice cap hit for a few seasons.

I think he's garbage, but id even be willing to take Greening back in that deal.

You guys definitely need a new owner though. Spezza supposedly leaving because of an internal budget is bad news for acquiring future talent, be it trade or FA. Fans deserve better.
- mochoson

What we need is, a couple of decent bottom 6 players ,a center and a winger that can pk and scrap a little

Tim Paniccio has listed Ottawa as a potential landing spot for Vinny Lecavlier. Quite frankly I think it's hog wash, but I'm more interested in Sens fans thoughts.

Turris and Zib are your two big centers moving forward, but would Lecavlier be an interesting option if we are anywhere from 25-50% of his salary? Term sucks, but you'd have a legit, veteran center locked into a nice cap hit for a few seasons.

I think he's garbage, but id even be willing to take Greening back in that deal.

You guys definitely need a new owner though. Spezza supposedly leaving because of an internal budget is bad news for acquiring future talent, be it trade or FA. Fans deserve better.
- mochoson

If it was up to me, I'd have no interest......unless philly eats some salary, and basically takes not much more than greening back. He'd be an okay 3rd line center

If it was up to me, I'd have no interest......unless philly eats some salary, and basically takes not much more than greening back. He'd be an okay 3rd line center
- sensarmy_11

For me Greening on the 4th line with Condra and Smith is fine.Its the third line that needs the help at the moment ,Lazar will probably get a shot there ,but he will need some support.Berglund would be a decent fit ,but iam not so sure on the rumored Stewart.Oh well we will see

What we need is, a couple of decent bottom 6 players ,a center and a winger that can pk and scrap a little

- top shelf 15

i think we have tons of bottom 6 players.... esp in the pipeline. i'd rather spend $ on a winger and a top 2 d.


honestly, for me at this point, if melnyk is preparing to sell the team then i don't care if we bomb or are a fringe team (whcih is what i think we will be) this year... as long as the core young guys stay in place, we will be ok.... and once the team is sold we will be in EXCELLENT position to spend some $$ on what we truly need. i really hope this is murrays plan... its all that is keeping me from %#@(ing like last summer and all of this year.

i think we have tons of bottom 6 players.... esp in the pipeline. i'd rather spend $ on a winger and a top 2 d.


honestly, for me at this point, if melnyk is preparing to sell the team then i don't care if we bomb or are a fringe team (whcih is what i think we will be) this year... as long as the core young guys stay in place, we will be ok.... and once the team is sold we will be in EXCELLENT position to spend some $$ on what we truly need. i really hope this is murrays plan... its all that is keeping me from %#@(ing like last summer and all of this year.
- sen_smile

Not really ,our pk sucked ,our forecheck lines sucked and other than a broken down neil ,a bench warmer in Kassian .And a decent Smith we have nothing of the sort we need in the bottom 6 .Greening Condra and Smith form a good bottom 6 line together.We need a third line

Not really ,our pk sucked ,our forecheck lines sucked and other than a broken down neil ,a bench warmer in Kassian .And a decent Smith we have nothing of the sort we need in the bottom 6 .Greening Condra and Smith form a good bottom 6 line together.We need a third line

- top shelf 15

im not referring to those guys. im talking about pipeline
most of the guys we have in bingy are prolly bottom 6 guys. i'd like to see them up with the big club, rather than adding a bunch of over priced 3rd and 4th liners... maybe one guy, but that's it.

EDIT: also, i'd prefer to have one of either stone or hoffman in top 9 rather than top 6... at least. so another bottom 6 addition... of course, that would mean spending on top 6 winger(s)... which is unlikely, but more so what i feel we need (if we are talking forwardS).

im not referring to those guys. im talking about pipeline
most of the guys we have in bingy are prolly bottom 6 guys. i'd like to see them up with the big club, rather than adding a bunch of over priced 3rd and 4th liners... maybe one guy, but that's it.

EDIT: also, i'd prefer to have one of either stone or hoffman in top 9 rather than top 6... at least. so another bottom 6 addition... of course, that would mean spending on top 6 winger(s)... which is unlikely, but more so what i feel we need (if we are talking forwardS).
- sen_smile

He was fine on KT line ,this leaves Ryan free to help Zibby on the second line.Now if Lazar makes the team. Most likely as a winger ,he will need support .Berglund looks like a decent fit ,but iam thinking they could use a hard player added to the bottom 6 .Neil has lost a step and will need help so this is my reasoning