Michael Stuart: Senators, Senators Foundation to Part Ways

Not pleasent optics. I have to admit for all the money they pour into the community they are not very visible. Maybe they want a more dynamic approach ,refresh the brand all around. .... or its Melynk meddling again.

Melynk is meddling again!

Knowing melnyk it’s probably got something to do with $$$

Knowing melnyk it’s probably got something to do with $$$
- RedC21

This is complex. Sens foundation has enormous credibility and a great reserve of financial muscle power. It includes, as supporters, most of the wealthy family and business interests of Eastern Ontario. Within the ranks of the active Foundation supporters there are some real heavy hitters who openly show their contempt for Melnyk and actively lobby for the sale of the team.

To me, this was a huge failure public relations-wise by both sides. Inappropriate time to announce this separation by the foundation and weird comments from the team that basically show that they are going to be heading in a direction where Melnyk's values are. It's just strange.

The Sens Foundation did so a lot for this community but obviously having the Sens name attached helped, but I don't blame them from moving on, honestly.

Another black eye on the franchise where we are supposed to be excited for the draft.

Saw an interesting question on Twitter yesterday: Would you give up both of the top two picks if it meant the team gets competent, stable ownership?

To me, this was a huge failure public relations-wise by both sides. Inappropriate time to announce this separation by the foundation and weird comments from the team that basically show that they are going to be heading in a direction where Melnyk's values are. It's just strange.

The Sens Foundation did so a lot for this community but obviously having the Sens name attached helped, but I don't blame them from moving on, honestly.

Another black eye on the franchise where we are supposed to be excited for the draft.

Saw an interesting question on Twitter yesterday: Would you give up both of the top two picks if it meant the team gets competent, stable ownership?
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

That's a new one.

hm...

That's a new one.

hm...
- david22

It got me thinking too...

According to Rick Gibbons of the Ottawa Sun, debate over distribution of funds was one of the main issues that led to the Ottawa Senators Foundation announcing Thursday that it would cut ties with the team in July.

https://www.tsn.ca/report...ottawa-senators-1.1483362

According to Rick Gibbons of the Ottawa Sun, debate over distribution of funds was one of the main issues that led to the Ottawa Senators Foundation announcing Thursday that it would cut ties with the team in July.

https://www.tsn.ca/report...ottawa-senators-1.1483362
- RedC21

Melynk wants funds only going to organ donor causes. Likely "the Organ Project" will be the new foundation.

It's a fine cause but I think we all know the issue...

If a team sale or not was in the mindset of Melnyk. A solid charity partnership is essential. For tax relief benefits.
... no i would not give up draft picks to get rid of Melnyk, at the end ofthe day its all about product on the ice wich in Ottawa case better be sooner then later.
A winning team will wash away all negativity

If a team sale or not was in the mindset of Melnyk. A solid charity partnership is essential. For tax relief benefits.
... no i would not give up draft picks to get rid of Melnyk, at the end ofthe day its all about product on the ice wich in Ottawa case better be sooner then later.
A winning team will wash away all negativity
- spazzbot

So the Sens Foundation cutting ties with the Sens is because the team is losing? Interesting.

That's a new one.

hm...
- david22

I would, happily, without even a second thought

Melynk wants funds only going to organ donor causes. Likely "the Organ Project" will be the new foundation.

It's a fine cause but I think we all know the issue...
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

I have zero doubt that Melnyk's desire to control where the money goes is an attempt, in some way, shape, or form, to use it as a tax shelter or money making scheme for himself...…………..the guy is the biggest piece of poop owner in all of professional sports, that includes bumholes like Dolan, Jones, etc

If a team sale or not was in the mindset of Melnyk. A solid charity partnership is essential. For tax relief benefits.
... no i would not give up draft picks to get rid of Melnyk, at the end ofthe day its all about product on the ice wich in Ottawa case better be sooner then later.
A winning team will wash away all negativity
- spazzbot

they made it to within a single game of the conference finals in 2017, and it did NOTHING to wash away the negativity. this has nothing to do with the team, the players, the on-ice success...…..it has everything to do with Melnyk

So the Sens Foundation cutting ties with the Sens is because the team is losing? Interesting.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

No , just with fans and media perspective

they made it to within a single game of the conference finals in 2017, and it did NOTHING to wash away the negativity. this has nothing to do with the team, the players, the on-ice success...…..it has everything to do with Melnyk
- sensarmy_11

Pretty bang on. Winning helps a little but in the grand scheme of things, nothing is going to change. Say we score Lafreinre at the draft and he becomes a legitimate superstar player. How confident are people with him sticking around long term with Melnyk at the helm?

they made it to within a single game of the conference finals in 2017, and it did NOTHING to wash away the negativity. this has nothing to do with the team, the players, the on-ice success...…..it has everything to do with Melnyk
- sensarmy_11

That final run was tainted by the national media. Imo.

Sometimes too as fans we have to look in the mirror. Are we cheering or booing for Melnyk only? I have never seen him score a goal,make a big hit or a timely save.

That final run was tainted by the national media. Imo.

Sometimes too as fans we have to look in the mirror. Are we cheering or booing for Melnyk only? I have never seen him score a goal,make a big hit or a timely save.
- spazzbot

It can't be both? Are you trying to justify Melnyk's actions during his tenure as owner? Just curious.

It can't be both? Are you trying to justify Melnyk's actions during his tenure as owner? Just curious.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

No, not all justifying Melnyk... i have been on record many times upset with him.
It can be both and it is. Its time to recognize that.

No, not all justifying Melnyk... i have been on record many times upset with him.
It can be both and it is. Its time to recognize that.
- spazzbot

Fair!

Saw an interesting question on Twitter yesterday: Would you give up both of the top two picks if it meant the team gets competent, stable ownership?
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

no.....

as much as I want that, having 2 picks equivalent to brady tkachuk impact on this team is not what fans deserve right now

I'm currently looking into the draft predictions and results of all major draft sources from 2019. Bob McKenzie's list (which is basically a # of scouts) is very accurate AT THE TOP. Where things change, especially with craig button and others, is after 20-22. So here is the most accurate, best guess, I have of how things will play out (not my order*):

01. Alexis Lafreniere
02. Quinton Byfield
03. Tim Stutzle
04. Jamie Drysdale
05. Marco Rossi
06. Lucas Raymond
07. Cole Perfetti
08. Alexander Holtz
09. Jake Sanderson
10. Yaroslav Askarov
11. Anton Lundell
12. Jack Quinn
13. Connor Zary
14. Dawson Mercer
15. Justin Barron
16. Dylan Holloway
17. Kaiden Guhle
18. Mavrik Bourque
19. William Wallinder
20. Braden Schneider
21. Hendrix Lapierre or ...

*Tyson Foerster, Rodion Amirov, Helge Grans, Jacob Perreault, all can jump up after 15th, and likely going in round 1*

Again.....Bob Mckenzie's top 18 picks, were ALL selected within the top 18. Seider jumped up a lot when Steve Yzerman selected him #6. The biggest fall from Bob's list, if I remember correctly was Cole Caufield, who has proven that was a mistake

It can't be both? Are you trying to justify Melnyk's actions during his tenure as owner? Just curious.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Objectively, there's little excuse for Melnyk's general conduct. However, in fairness I think he became a default lightning rod for the frustration of many around the trades that have happened over the past few years, under the assumption that they were exclusively the result of his perceived unwillingness to pay high-end salaries. And yet, just 1-2 years later it's clear that Karlsson is on the decline, Duchene has regressed, and Stone has essentially only kept pace. Given the major red flag of the entire 2017/18 season as evidence of the team's deterioration, is it maybe not time to give due credit to Dorion and his management team for being on the right side of some very hard decisions? Not only avoiding paying top-dollar long-term for depreciating assets to the tune of $29M/yr, but also now being flush with quality young players and draft picks with which to effectively rebuild the franchise.

Once you acknowledge that these may have actually been relatively good decisions with positive outcomes, you have to question the extent to which Melnyk was wrong to not just blindly offer up blank cheques to their top players. He's clearly a pr1ck, but the team is actually in a pretty enviable situation right now, at least in the context of a rebuilding franchise. If they can effectively weaponize their massive amount of open cap space, they may have just written the new play book on how to "180" a declining franchise in 3-4 years.