I am entirely amazed by the sheer naïveté of some of the posts. Some of you guys were attacking me six months ago when I told you what Melnyk was doing and the financial squeeze he was placing on the cash flow of the Senators. Now you have turned the entire matter upside down and saying some of the things that may have been valid last September but are just plain redundant right now.

The horse has already left the gate, the race in the stretch drive and you guys want to debate the start. Melnyk has made his case for a significant supplementary revenue stream (casino), the balance sheets have been sanitized. The next stage involves either the outright sale of the team, the addition of an equity partner or a recapitalization of the Senators by Melnyk himself.

If your a prospective investor the Ottawa Senators are an absolute jewel of a sports franchise. Players are young, talented and there is enormous potential for short term and lasting growth. Budgets and expenditures have been streamlined and all the primary young player assets have been locked into long term reasonable contracts.

For those of you who were defending Melnyk last fall and who are criticizing him now you need to know it is already over. Melnyk has done exactly what he wanted to do. Spezza is just part of the mopping up. Despite what anyone says, none of them are really disappointed by the departure of Alfredsson other than for the impact he had on the ice and a possible playoff shot.

Guys, you got played. Melnyk did exactly what he had to do. But, it is over, stop whining.
- spatso

EM is exactly what i assume most billionaires are like ,u dont make that kind of coin without stepping on people