Trevor Shackles: Eugene Melnyk Breaks His Silence Eugene Melynk went on Toronto radio yesterday

Dark days ahead, very dark days.....in about ten years it'll get better though.

Eugene talks a lot of sense and has a very clear idea on what is needed to become a champ. Only good times ahead under the direction of him imo.

Is there any other team owner that does a media tour? Melnyk is going to start on Ottawa radio this morning, its just going to get better and better

If things stay consistent, there's a real possibility Ottawa and Columbus' last game of the season could decide if they make the playoffs.

Money is like water...it always seeks its own level. This is all about money and crafting an outcome. Melnyk did not say that "LeBreton" is dead. He carefully said that the "process" was dead.

Does anybody take seriously the idea that he is going to redevelop the Kanata lands?

Be patient and hang tough.

Sens will move to LeBreton. Melnyk will move on once he secures his buy out.

Is there any other team owner that does a media tour? Melnyk is going to start on Ottawa radio this morning, its just going to get better and better
- Brandon

You ask a really important question.

In fact, why is there any need for Melnyk to go on radio at all? The Sens and Melnyk know that his mere presence is counter productive. If anything, it increases the possibility that a few more season ticket holders lose hope and quit the cause.

I think the answer is fairly obvious. Nobody is giving Melnyk any oxygen. Starting with Bettman, the mayor, all politicians, the NCC and all of Melnyk's potential partners are saying anything. The freeze is on. They have decided to wait him out.

Think about it. The entire LeBreton deal falls apart and hardly anyone reacts. Melnyk's partner continues on with his law suit. Just another day at the office. Melnyk is trying to create his own oxygen...it never works.

My sincerest condolences on having this ass-clown as an owner.

The irony of this crazy process is that Dorion is starting to get pretty good reviews on the job he has done over the past few months.

Canadian hockey fans love to watch and be a part of the young guys developing individually and as a team. The Sens are playing out their future in their Belleville playoff aspirations.

There is a lot to get excited about.

The irony of this crazy process is that Dorion is starting to get pretty good reviews on the job he has done over the past few months.

Canadian hockey fans love to watch and be a part of the young guys developing individually and as a team. The Sens are playing out their future in their Belleville playoff aspirations.

There is a lot to get excited about.
- spatso

Yep, nobody picks a winner like Ol' Spatso

So the owner of the team that is dead-last with no 1st rounder is criticizing the rebuild of a team 37 points ahead in the standings?

Sounds a lot like a certain orange someone in DC..
"The only 'true fans' are my supporters, and everybody else is 'fake news.'"

So the owner of the team that is dead-last with no 1st rounder is criticizing the rebuild of a team 37 points ahead in the standings?


- RogerRoeper

Hes not wrong
Every time he opens his mouth he says something stupid

Hes not wrong
Every time he opens his mouth he says something stupid
- Brandon

Check out the Marlies sometime. Leafs are in great shape going forward on D. He's completely out of his mind. Rasmus Sandin is dominating the AHL.

"Forgot About Defense", uh, the last 2 first rounds lilljegren and Sandin have been selected and there's a certain top 10 NHL DMan right now on the Leafs who was taken 5th overall.

Check out the Marlies sometime. Leafs are in great shape going forward on D. He's completely out of his mind. Rasmus Sandin is dominating the AHL.

"Forgot About Defense", uh, the last 2 first rounds lilljegren and Sandin have been selected and there's a certain top 10 NHL DMan right now on the Leafs who was taken 5th overall.
- RogerRoeper

I (frank)in love Rielly
Apart from him though, their NHL D is less than stellar when they have a heck of a team otherwise to go deep into the playoffs.

I (frank)in love Rielly
Apart from him though, their NHL D is less than stellar when they have a heck of a team otherwise to go deep into the playoffs.
- Brandon

I think the issue is though, if you say "Someone forgot about D', then Marlies players should be counted. Leafs last 2 1st rounders are DMen, one of which look spectacular.

Leafs are in good shape with Sandin, Lilljegren, and Rosen. I think their D will be better next season. And Dermott looms very good, yet the coach is not playing him enough.

I think the issue is though, if you say "Someone forgot about D', then Marlies players should be counted. Leafs last 2 1st rounders are DMen, one of which look spectacular.

Leafs are in good shape with Sandin, Lilljegren, and Rosen. I think their D will be better next season. And Dermott looms very good, yet the coach is not playing him enough.
- RogerRoeper

Makes sense to me! Not so sure about a sh*t clamp like Melnyk though haha

I don't think Melnyk is as bad as people say he is nor as good as he himself thinks he is but he does seems to had a good idea of what it takes to have a Stanley Cup competitor and so far the rebuild looks good. I don't think there was much irony in what he said about have 5 young stars around the same age. Obviously Ottawa either didn't have the right stars or the right coach (as the team despite losing their best players looks better under Crawford than Boucher)

The players were up for contract despite their combined efforts amounting to 2nd last in the league last season. If they couldn't get the job done on the cheap, Karlsson @ 11mil, Duchene at 8 mil, Stone @ 9.5 mil and Dzingel @ 5-6 mil would definitely not get the job done.

Rebuilding makes sense to me now to obtain success. Get a bunch of good players around the same age and that way we can have long term success like Sane Jose, Boston, Pittsburgh, Tampa or Washington.

Our prospects are good and we still have a boat load of picks coming in over the next 2-3 seasons. Dorian is top notch for finding great talent within those picks.

The prime thing we need is a great goal tending tandem to replace Anderson that hopefully surpasses his achievements with Ottawa.

I think the issue is though, if you say "Someone forgot about D', then Marlies players should be counted. Leafs last 2 1st rounders are DMen, one of which look spectacular.

Leafs are in good shape with Sandin, Lilljegren, and Rosen. I think their D will be better next season. And Dermott looms very good, yet the coach is not playing him enough.
- RogerRoeper

Problem though is eventually those massive contracts they have up front will interfere with keeping those prospects long term. I think it was a huge mistake to get Tavares unless they plan to unload Nylander.

Plus defense prospects take longer to develop than forwards. It should have been what Toronto build around first or fixed via free agency but they went after the big fish in Tavares instead and now there is fear of a first round exit for the 3rd season in a row from this "contender".

As it stands by the time those prospects are good they will be will into Matthews, Tavares, Nylander and Marner contracts.

I don't think Melnyk is as bad as people say he is nor as good as he himself thinks he is but he does seems to had a good idea of what it takes to have a Stanley Cup competitor and so far the rebuild looks good. I don't think there was much irony in what he said about have 5 young stars around the same age. Obviously Ottawa either didn't have the right stars or the right coach (as the team despite losing their best players looks better under Crawford than Boucher)

The players were up for contract despite their combined efforts amounting to 2nd last in the league last season. If they couldn't get the job done on the cheap, Karlsson @ 11mil, Duchene at 8 mil, Stone @ 9.5 mil and Dzingel @ 5-6 mil would definitely not get the job done.

Rebuilding makes sense to me now to obtain success. Get a bunch of good players around the same age and that way we can have long term success like Sane Jose, Boston, Pittsburgh, Tampa or Washington.

Our prospects are good and we still have a boat load of picks coming in over the next 2-3 seasons. Dorian is top notch for finding great talent within those picks.

The prime thing we need is a great goal tending tandem to replace Anderson that hopefully surpasses his achievements with Ottawa.
- TDBSenatoR

There is a problem retaining top end talent on this team. When was the last significant long-term signing of a player in Ottawa? I think you have to go back to the Ryan contract extension.

The fact Melnyk says you need stars in their 20s to be competitive when he has watched Karlsson (arguably the best d-man in the game), Stone (a star right-winger), and Duchene (a very capable #1 centre) move on to somewhere else, is embarrassing.

You need to be able to retain talent to be competitive. It feels like Melnyk is just hoping to win the cup with a bunch of players on entry level and RFA bridge deals, which wouldn’t surprise me.

You list teams like Boston, Tampa, Washington, San Jose, etc that have all had long term success. Those teams have all signed their star players long term and have plans for their prospects coming up the ranks to support that group. Neither of that was nor is happening in Ottawa. Until that is addressed, this team is just going to be going around the same merry-go-round hoping for a lightning in a bottle season.

Even if guys like Chabot, Tkachuck, Braanstrom, etc turn into legitimate star level players in a rebuild, what honestly makes one think that they are going to tap in long term with the current state of the franchise? Unless something drastically changes, we are going to watch them grow, become big supporters, and then be watching them get moved for picks and prospects when they want out with Dorion saying those are the proudest moments in his career.

The irony of this crazy process is that Dorion is starting to get pretty good reviews on the job he has done over the past few months.

Canadian hockey fans love to watch and be a part of the young guys developing individually and as a team. The Sens are playing out their future in their Belleville playoff aspirations.

There is a lot to get excited about.
- spatso

B.sens lead by sens 1st tier prospects: 74 points

Marlies lead by leafs 2nd tier prospects: 80 points

Future looks bright in senville

So the owner of the team that is dead-last with no 1st rounder is criticizing the rebuild of a team 37 points ahead in the standings?


- RogerRoeper

The leafs screwed up taking mathews. A center who put up big points on the us development team.

Just like Hughes. This is all part of the plan.

I think.

There is a problem retaining top end talent on this team. When was the last significant long-term signing of a player in Ottawa? I think you have to go back to the Ryan contract extension.

The fact Melnyk says you need stars in their 20s to be competitive when he has watched Karlsson (arguably the best d-man in the game), Stone (a star right-winger), and Duchene (a very capable #1 centre) move on to somewhere else, is embarrassing.

You need to be able to retain talent to be competitive. It feels like Melnyk is just hoping to win the cup with a bunch of players on entry level and RFA bridge deals, which wouldn’t surprise me.

You list teams like Boston, Tampa, Washington, San Jose, etc that have all had long term success. Those teams have all signed their star players long term and have plans for their prospects coming up the ranks to support that group. Neither of that was nor is happening in Ottawa. Until that is addressed, this team is just going to be going around the same merry-go-round hoping for a lightning in a bottle season.

Even if guys like Chabot, Tkachuck, Braanstrom, etc turn into legitimate star level players in a rebuild, what honestly makes one think that they are going to tap in long term with the current state of the franchise? Unless something drastically changes, we are going to watch them grow, become big supporters, and then be watching them get moved for picks and prospects when they want out with Dorion saying those are the proudest moments in his career.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Tkychuck is a trade demand waiting to happen

Most of the others will likely stay with the franchise.

Chabow and Bramstron will be pretty Quebec Nordiques.

LOL Melnyk thinks he keeps his mouth shut.

If the Leafs choke against Boston, we will all be back where we started.

I like the Leaf rebuild. Think the signing of Tavares will become highly problematic.

But, if Leafs get past the Bruins we will certainly be able to endorse the Leaf rebuild as a success.

Melnyk is right in only one small point. Leaf fans have suffered far longer with much uglier outcomes than Sens fans have had to endure. I think the point he is trying to channel is Leaf fans have been loyal during the atrocious last half century and he is hoping Sens fans will allow him a few years for the rebuild.