Kevin Francis: Sens win Boston/Leafs game tomorrow/The Athletic article on Eugene Melnyk

When you look at who Ottawa has on their schedule to end the season, I think both Brady can get to 30 goals and Norris to 35 goals. That would be nice to see.

I was surprised how Ottawa owned the second period last night in Boston but they almost got caught playing not to lose again as you've said on many nights when DJ does that. They hung on. But honestly, stop winning lol lets get a top 5 pick.

But I could see Ottawa putting up a crazy effort tomorrow night and getting the win. Then I could see them losing all 3 on the road after it.

As for the Melnyk stuff, I posted in the comment section last night of your other blog how it was so odd that nobody on the "supposed" local radio station didn't talk about the article. It harkens back to the days of Roy Mlakar who controlled the media in this town. Then the 4 TSN insiders down in Toronto never made a mention of it on their twitter, so it makes you wonder who told the program director at TSN1200 to tell his on air people not to talk about it. Censored reporting, bullcrap on TSN1200's part....I lost a lot of respect for all the on air people at TSN1200.

Read the full article. Surprised by the simplicity of their story, very professional. No drama or gotcha moments. I think they worked really hard to lay out a story that painted a picture revealing Melnyk as a very complex man. Obviously, he was troubled by demons, bias and prejudice. But, we all have demons in some form. Clearly, Melnyk also wanted to do good. By the end of my reading, I was left with more questions than answers and hoping for a follow up story. Telling a story is far more difficult than providing a list of facts, opinions and criticisms. A very good story and we are left to form our own conclusions.

The Athletic article was really good, definitely worth reading

For all the stuff we thought was going on behind the scenes, I actually expected a lot worse stuff…

The Athletic article was really good, definitely worth reading

For all the stuff we thought was going on behind the scenes, I actually expected a lot worse stuff…
- Ottawa Fan

Had they produced a laundry list of all the complaints and conflicts it would have appeared to be a much more negative article. I think they chose the high road and chose to report more on the history and complexity of the man. All the other stuff will come out soon enough. In terms of where we are now, I thought the reporting was exceptional.

Shawn Simpson
@TSNSimmer
·
2h
I was told there's 5 bids for the LeBreton project. That's just for the 7.5 acres that would hold the event space/hockey rink. One of those is the Sens, and who else? Nobody is developing the land without a hockey team?

Read the full article. Surprised by the simplicity of their story, very professional. No drama or gotcha moments. I think they worked really hard to lay out a story that painted a picture revealing Melnyk as a very complex man. Obviously, he was troubled by demons, bias and prejudice. But, we all have demons in some form. Clearly, Melnyk also wanted to do good. By the end of my reading, I was left with more questions than answers and hoping for a follow up story. Telling a story is far more difficult than providing a list of facts, opinions and criticisms. A very good story and we are left to form our own conclusions.
- spatso

They left out a lot, plain and simple. They mention one vendor getting paid out of the blue, when there were dozens and dozens that haven't been paid going back 10 years. I thought the story was lame in a lot of aspects. Yes, you said it, they left you with way more questions than answers. Not what you should have your readers left saying.

The Athletic article was really good, definitely worth reading

For all the stuff we thought was going on behind the scenes, I actually expected a lot worse stuff…
- Ottawa Fan

The gambling problem, was totally left out of the article and they never got into what he did really at the outdoor game, the fallout from that was massive, but they didn't go into it. His drinking was out there for all to see too. So many topics left alone, makes you wonder.

They left out a lot, plain and simple. They mention one vendor getting paid out of the blue, when there were dozens and dozens that haven't been paid going back 10 years. I thought the story was lame in a lot of aspects. Yes, you said it, they left you with way more questions than answers. Not what you should have your readers left saying.
- LawyerSens4Life

My background is insolvency. It has been clear to most everyone for a long time that Melnyk was unable to meet his debts as they became due. He routinely committed acts of insolvency on an almost daily basis. Most of the outrage over financial issues is gone. People wanted to move on. I understand there are still folks wanting to be paid but hockey fans just wanted to stop talking about the financial stuff since a long time ago.

I stopped talking about it several years ago. I dealt with my frustration on the obvious by using variations on the expression that the Melnyk problem will be resolved on God's time. God has now spoken.

The gambling problem, was totally left out of the article and they never got into what he did really at the outdoor game, the fallout from that was massive, but they didn't go into it. His drinking was out there for all to see too. So many topics left alone, makes you wonder.
- LawyerSens4Life

Actually, you make a better argument in favour of the article than I do. So many non Ottawa people have called the article terrible and outrageous. A disrespect of a man and his family.

But anybody who actually took time to look under the covers knows just how incredibly reasonable the article was.

I think it also explains why the media is so silent. Nobody, today, is ready to stand up and say it was far worse than anything reported. I favour that. We have waited so long. It is just time to move on.

Love this team.

My background is insolvency. It has been clear to most everyone for a long time that Melnyk was unable to meet his debts as they became due. He routinely committed acts of insolvency on an almost daily basis. Most of the outrage over financial issues is gone. People wanted to move on. I understand there are still folks wanting to be paid but hockey fans just wanted to stop talking about the financial stuff since a long time ago.

I stopped talking about it several years ago. I dealt with my frustration on the obvious by using variations on the expression that the Melnyk problem will be resolved on God's time. God has now spoken.
- spatso

Well said, so true how you ended your post. So sad though, I think once his wife divorced him, he went off the rails. He had to sell his junior team to stay afloat as Kevin has stated on here. She had his assets all frozen at one point. But it was weird how they focussed on the guy from Ukraine for a big part of the article, I found that so odd. But like you said, so many have been burned in this city by Eugene over the years that they left all of that out too. Again, like you said they took the high road but it made the article not nearly half of what many thought it would be.

Actually, you make a better argument in favour of the article than I do. So many non Ottawa people have called the article terrible and outrageous. A disrespect of a man and his family.

But anybody who actually took time to look under the covers knows just how incredibly reasonable the article was.

I think it also explains why the media is so silent. Nobody, today, is ready to stand up and say it was far worse than anything reported. I favour that. We have waited so long. It is just time to move on.

Love this team.
- spatso

It would be the same in any market that didn't know the dynamic of the market. That is why seeing all 4 TSN big guns not say anything about it, made it look bad, when it wasn't. I lost respect for all 4 of the so called insders. If it was them breaking the story, they would be re-tweeting each others work, instead they all go silent. Pathetic! Dreger, LeBrun, CJ and Bobby Mac, not cool.

Great discussion to kick off the blog!

BSens won tonight on the road, 2-1! Gus stopped 28 of 29 shots. Victor Lodin and Sokolov with the goals.

I thought the Melnyk article had a lot of good meat to it to let fans and citizens know some the very strange stuff that has gone on under Melnyk. Some of it made you wonder how there couldn’t have been moves to get him out. Especially with precedents with owners in other sports.

After the article fallout, you realize some items were left out too and more probably could be shared. But maybe they were trying to stick to stuff that people likely didn’t know.

Lastly, the fact major media hasn’t talked about any of the issues surrounding Melnyk now or in the past just goes to show how little we can rely on mainstream media. The Melnyk article is what journalism should be. Much kudos should be going to the authors for getting this info out there. Folks who chose to ignore or weirdly try to spin it as taking advantage of a man who has recently passed speaks volumes of where their journalistic values lie. Understandably, some of this might be pressure from corporations that employee these folks, but even so. As Kevin mention, issues such as domestic bullying are up airwave time but this doesn’t?

If Norris is the fastest Senator to get 50 goals, who is the slowest to get 3 goals? Brannstrom is at 108 and counting. [/petty post]

If Norris is the fastest Senator to get 50 goals, who is the slowest to get 3 goals? Brannstrom is at 108 and counting.
- PogBoi[/petty post]

Borowiecki had 4 goals in first 217 games
Phillips didn't score much. Methot too.

But then again, these were all defensive D-men. Janne Laukkanen, Filip Kuba come to mind with respect to what Brannstrom COULD BE in terms of play making. He has 11A this year and I think he has played below a player traded for Mark Stone, but above a 7th d-man on a team

Well said, so true how you ended your post. So sad though, I think once his wife divorced him, he went off the rails. He had to sell his junior team to stay afloat as Kevin has stated on here. She had his assets all frozen at one point. But it was weird how they focussed on the guy from Ukraine for a big part of the article, I found that so odd. But like you said, so many have been burned in this city by Eugene over the years that they left all of that out too. Again, like you said they took the high road but it made the article not nearly half of what many thought it would be.
- LawyerSens4Life

Think about "the guy from Ukraine" as a proxy. He represents every Sens fan, season and box holder, trade creditor or business partner. It all started with so much hope. It all turned to poope. Yet, everyone remained hopeful for some kind of reconciliation and be able to make it work again. The rebuild has given the fan community a chance to soften or set aside their hostile views on Melnyk.

I suspect TSN has had the same relationship with Melnyk as "the guy from Ukraine."

I have not read the athlete post. I find it strange to pay to read blogs.
I also think Mr Bush League's ego is still hurt . We all know the surface grapevine stories . Thats what most of it is. And determining your perspective will decide the outcome of any grapevine or narrative.

It would be the same in any market that didn't know the dynamic of the market. That is why seeing all 4 TSN big guns not say anything about it, made it look bad, when it wasn't. I lost respect for all 4 of the so called insders. If it was them breaking the story, they would be re-tweeting each others work, instead they all go silent. Pathetic! Dreger, LeBrun, CJ and Bobby Mac, not cool.
- LawyerSens4Life

Forgiveness is something I do for myself. It does not make good or right anything that someone else has done to me or others. My unbridled love and support of the kids on this team is part of my cathartic journey of letting go of my own anger. I refuse to engage in the slamming of Dorion for no other reason than my certainty that he has had to swallow hard in dealing with the directions coming from above.

I also believe that a lot of the criticism and anger directed towards Dorion and Smith is the overwhelming frustration that fans have experienced for a very long time. I have no illusion. Neither Dorion or Smith will survive long under a new ownership group. New guys will want their own people. Does anybody really believe that anybody in the Sens hockey department was happy trading Zibinajad?

But, let's see how we do with season ticket and box sales over the next few months. The more we talk about it the better it is for all of us. Full value to Ian Mendes and his co-authors for setting a tone. Everyone can fill in the details of their own stories and disappointments. But, today, this is more about me and you and where we go from here.

I will buy a half season ticket package. And I know my wife's cousin Eddy will buy the other half. We were partners on great seats for a long time and both of us are keen to come back.

Forgiveness is something I do for myself. It does not make good or right anything that someone else has done to me or others. My unbridled love and support of the kids on this team is part of my cathartic journey of letting go of my own anger. I refuse to engage in the slamming of Dorion for no other reason than my certainty that he has had to swallow hard in dealing with the directions coming from above.

I also believe that a lot of the criticism and anger directed towards Dorion and Smith is the overwhelming frustration that fans have experienced for a very long time. I have no illusion. Neither Dorion or Smith will survive long under a new ownership group. New guys will want their own people. Does anybody really believe that anybody in the Sens hockey department was happy trading Zibinajad?

But, let's see how we do with season ticket and box sales over the next few months. The more we talk about it the better it is for all of us. Full value to Ian Mendes and his co-authors for setting a tone. Everyone can fill in the details of their own stories and disappointments. But, today, this is more about me and you and where we go from here.

I will buy a half season ticket package. And I know my wife's cousin Eddy will buy the other half. We were partners on great seats for a long time and both of us are keen to come back.
- spatso

I like your enthusiasm. Mine will be there again, once the summer hits.
They have to close a 35-40 gf/ga gap to have any chance of sniffing the playoffs next year. Thats a tall order in 1 season. It is possible and thats what i will cling to all summer.
Worst case scenario . They are out of the race by christmas.
Medium case scenario. They land 15 points out of the playoffs. . That will ignite a demand for change.
Best case scenario, this time next year the games have some meaning.

Read the story. Never knew about his post-Stanley Cup loss locker room speech. My god, that has to be demoralizing.

Anyone know who is starting in goal tonight for Ottawa? capping games and Leafs have confirmed Kallgren in goal.

Read the story. Never knew about his post-Stanley Cup loss locker room speech. My god, that has to be demoralizing.
- Only_A_Ladd

Not just for the players. So many incidents where things were said or done that was a direct dump on the fan base. Ottawa is a very smart hockey market. Most fans (boys/girls) have played, officiated, coached and supported other family members playing the game. So when players get dealt away at discount prices you recoil when someone tries to make it seem like something it was not.

Different folks will have low points or turning points in their relationship with the ownership. For me it was the game on Parliament Hill. Never wavered in my love for the team. But my heart ached with disappointment after the great night on the Hill turned into a public relations poope storm.

TSN TV not mentioning the story could be just their policy of not acknowledging other stations/other people's work/what's on other stations. Why would they advertise the Athletic by mentioning the story?

TSN radio not saying anything is a little more interesting. They are local, with local concerns. It's one of two things in my opinion it could be the just didn't feel it was right to talk about the story given the recent death. Or they could be trying to establish a relationship with the new owners, his daughters, and dont want to annoy them by making it a bigger story.

Either way, it was a definite conscious decision.

Gus call up, Sogaard send down