Trevor Shackles: Senators miss easy layup as PR continues to fail It was announced that despite his arrest, AGM Randy Lee's role with the team will remain unchanged. He will not be suspended either, which is a massive mistake.

Well what ever happened to innocent till proven guilty...They did the right thing in suspending him and if he pleads guilty or is found guilty Im sure they will take appropriate action

I wouldn't expect them to do anything, The guy works for a professional sports team. This whole thing could be made up so some 19 year old can try to get a payday and claim emotional de-stress.

I'm sorry but true or not the whole thing is just dumb.

Not sure I entirely agree with the scope of the blog. I like Lee should have been fired awhile ago based on his hockey management merit. Let's get that out of the way.

While I suspect Lee is guilty, an employer should wait to make any decisions until an outcome is officially reached. There have been too many false allegations ruin careers the last couple of years. If the allegations are true, having your career ruined is deserved.

The statement by the Sens isn't great. I agree with that. Instead of talking about "statements" after the court hearing, a word like "decisions" should have been used.

If the Sens keep the guy on board if he is guilty, then it's time to really go to town on this organization.

Well what ever happened to innocent till proven guilty...They did the right thing in suspending him and if he pleads guilty or is found guilty Im sure they will take appropriate action
- Tj969

They did *not* suspend him, that is why I'm disappointed.

Not sure I entirely agree with the scope of the blog. I like Lee should have been fired awhile ago based on his hockey management merit. Let's get that out of the way.

While I suspect Lee is guilty, an employer should wait to make any decisions until an outcome is officially reached. There have been too many false allegations ruin careers the last couple of years. If the allegations are true, having your career ruined is deserved.

The statement by the Sens isn't great. I agree with that. Instead of talking about "statements" after the court hearing, a word like "decisions" should have been used.

If the Sens keep the guy on board if he is guilty, then it's time to really go to town on this organization.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Ehh, like I said, the number of false allegations in cases like this are extremely small. Going on administrative leave at least gives him pay, but the way they're handling this makes it seem like they know he's innocent despite the possibility of him actually being charged. It's irresponsible

Ehh, like I said, the number of false allegations in cases like this are extremely small. Going on administrative leave at least gives him pay, but the way they're handling this makes it seem like they know he's innocent despite the possibility of him actually being charged. It's irresponsible
- Trevor Shackles

Going on administrative leave makes him look guilty (which he could very well be). Both ways, you aren't going to please everyone.

There isn't really a 100% correct way to handle these kinds of things. The allegations are definitely a black eye on the individual already. I don't know, I think the organization can play the fence until a verdict is in place. They used poor language in their statement. Knowing the penny pinching, it's probably a high school co-op student writing it rather than an actual public relations person.

If the hearing is on draft day and the Sens have no scouts left, who the heck is going to be at the draft table? Are Pierre Dorion and Eugene Melnyk gonna spread out over 15 chairs?

I'm sorry but true or not the whole thing is just dumb.

- Maverick1818

So even if Lee is proven guilty, the young victim is being dumb for telling the cops? Please explain.

This whole organization is a f#$ing circus man

Man I can't wait to see the empty seat next year.

Cheap tix for me. Don'T bother buying season tix, we should be able to get tix for 10 or 15$ on resale site.

I guess you don’t believe in the mantra “innocent until proven guilty.”
Every incident has 2 sides to the story.

I guess you don’t believe in the mantra “innocent until proven guilty.”
Every incident has 2 sides to the story.
- TandA4Flames

Did you even bother to read the blog?

Not an easy choice for an employer. if you react and suspend it raises a concern that maybe there are previous incidents. If you suspend there is no due peocess.

A decision to do nothing (positive or negative) is, in fact a decision to do something. It is hard to fault the Senators response.

So even if Lee is proven guilty, the young victim is being dumb for telling the cops? Please explain.
- Not_Yan

Making a court case out of something that minor, true or not is dumb. Even the cop doing the reporting was laughing about it because if it was true, it's that minor.

Personally I agree with the "innocent until proven guilty", I don't think Lee actually did anything. I think this 19 year old, heard he works for a professional team and will claim emotional distress and try to take him to court for a pay day.

But even if it is true, then yes it's bad on Lee, but what he "did" was nothing, worse stuff happens everywhere on a daily basis. It show it was nothing that the maximum penalty is a huge! $250 fine or 15 days in jail. lol.

Not an easy choice for an employer. if you react and suspend it raises a concern that maybe there are previous incidents. If you suspend there is no due peocess.

A decision to do nothing (positive or negative) is, in fact a decision to do something. It is hard to fault the Senators response.
- spatso

Hey Randy. Does the Motel 6 you're staying in have wifi so you can do some work until you get your passport back?

Making a court case out of something that minor, true or not is dumb. Even the cop doing the reporting was laughing about it because if it was true, it's that minor.

Personally I agree with the "innocent until proven guilty", I don't think Lee actually did anything. I think this 19 year old, heard he works for a professional team and will claim emotional distress and try to take him to court for a pay day.

But even if it is true, then yes it's bad on Lee, but what he "did" was nothing, worse stuff happens everywhere on a daily basis. It show it was nothing that the maximum penalty is a huge! $250 fine or 15 days in jail. lol.
- Maverick1818

Victim shaming, I see.

Agree with Trevor, this is a massive mistake. They have to issue an official statement. They have to let fans know they do not support harrassement of any kind. They should take this opportunity to manage their image, but they are not.

As a Sens fans, I am embarrassed and confused.

This team is not run like a pro team, it is run like a bantam team.

Lee claims he is innocent, nothing has been proven, and there is no indication that anyone else is at risk. I don't see how the Sens actions (or inactions) are a slap in the face of the young man who made the complaint. Again, nothing is proven. If anything, it would be a slap in the face of Mr. Lee, who has worked for the organization for almost 25 years, to be suspended or lose his job, and ruin his career, before any legal proof is considered and decided upon by a judge. The Sens did the right thing.

They should have put him on leave until its sorted out and they do their own investigation (assuming they do).

Victim shaming, I see.
- Not_Yan

It's not victim shaming, if he actually did something wrong, by all means I'd be the first one there saying he's a terrible person. But Innocent until proven guilty I 100% agree with.

I also think something minor like saying a comment and lightly touching a shoulder (if it did happen)... that's nothing to cry about. If it happened he should have pulled over the car, told him to F off and get out and that would be the end of it. Instead, he's ruining a man's reputation and career.

We all know even if it was proven that he didn't do anything, this will follow him for the rest of his life.

They should have put him on leave until its sorted out and they do their own investigation (assuming they do).
- senstroll

i'm sure they would like to do the wrong thing and not do an internal investigation. just hope it all goes away.

but this could really (frank) up any potential sale. as much melnyk and his merry crew of idiots may try to bury this...

... i doubt a buyer is going to drop a few hundred million without knowing the full potential for future lawsuits.

It's not victim shaming, if he actually did something wrong, by all means I'd be the first one there saying he's a terrible person. But Innocent until proven guilty I 100% agree with.

I also think something minor like saying a comment and lightly touching a shoulder (if it did happen)... that's nothing to cry about. If it happened he should have pulled over the car, told him to F off and get out and that would be the end of it. Instead, he's ruining a man's reputation and career.

We all know even if it was proven that he didn't do anything, this will follow him for the rest of his life.
- Maverick1818

Maybe pass on your contact info so he can call you next time to ask how to handle the situation

It's not victim shaming, if he actually did something wrong, by all means I'd be the first one there saying he's a terrible person. But Innocent until proven guilty I 100% agree with.

I also think something minor like saying a comment and lightly touching a shoulder (if it did happen)... that's nothing to cry about. If it happened he should have pulled over the car, told him to F off and get out and that would be the end of it. Instead, he's ruining a man's reputation and career.

We all know even if it was proven that he didn't do anything, this will follow him for the rest of his life.
- Maverick1818

So, when Lee continued to touch him and offer himself sexually after the 19-year-old asked him to stop, it's now the kid's fault for "ruining his reputation?" Assuming this is true, Lee would only have himself to blame.

Would you feel different if the driver was a 19-year-old girl just driving a shuttle to pay for her college books and some guy kept touching her and soliciting sex with her after she asked him to stop?

If Lee is innocent, this will be forgotten about in 2 weeks. If he's guilty, then it's not the victim's fault if his career and reputation are ruined.

So, when Lee continued to touch him and offer himself sexually after the 19-year-old asked him to stop, it's now the kid's fault for "ruining his reputation?" Assuming this is true, Lee would only have himself to blame.

Would you feel different if the driver was a 19-year-old girl just driving a shuttle to pay for her college books and some guy kept touching her and soliciting sex with her after she asked him to stop?

If Lee is innocent, this will be forgotten about in 2 weeks. If he's guilty, then it's not the victim's fault if his career and reputation are ruined.
- jmatchett383

No that is wrong, The original report never said he offered anything, it said he made one comment, then a joke and then was told to stop and lightly touched the guys shoulder and that was the end of it.

I couldn't care less what gender the 19 year old was, the outcome (if true) should have been the same. Tell him to stop, if he continues, pull over, tell him off and he can walk the rest of the way. Not take it to court and try and get a pay off.

If it's proven Lee is innocent, it will absolutely not be forgotten. It will follow him around the rest of his career. Likely effect his job, family life and how people treat him forever.

No that is wrong, The original report never said he offered anything, it said he made one comment, then a joke and then was told to stop and lightly touched the guys shoulder and that was the end of it.

I couldn't care less what gender the 19 year old was, the outcome (if true) should have been the same. Tell him to stop, if he continues, pull over, tell him off and he can walk the rest of the way. Not take it to court and try and get a pay off.

If it's proven Lee is innocent, it will absolutely not be forgotten. It will follow him around the rest of his career. Likely effect his job, family life and how people treat him forever.
- Maverick1818

i don't think you understand the difference between criminal and civil court.

No that is wrong, The original report never said he offered anything, it said he made one comment, then a joke and then was told to stop and lightly touched the guys shoulder and that was the end of it.

I couldn't care less what gender the 19 year old was, the outcome (if true) should have been the same. Tell him to stop, if he continues, pull over, tell him off and he can walk the rest of the way. Not take it to court and try and get a pay off.

If it's proven Lee is innocent, it will absolutely not be forgotten. It will follow him around the rest of his career. Likely effect his job, family life and how people treat him forever.
- Maverick1818

Read the report again.

“In the course of the drive back to the Westin Hotel, Mr. Lee allegedly put his hands on (the young man’s) shoulders and allegedly made some lewd comments,” Flynn said. “The young man told him to ‘stop’ and don’t touch him.

“Mr. Lee allegedly didn’t stop and put his hand back on his shoulders again and started rubbing his shoulders. The young man again told him to stop.”

The young man then made a complaint to police, who investigated.

Now if you wanna add words like "lightly" and "joke" in there, go ahead, it's a free world. But nobody cares about you or your opinion that all this situation is dumb. You contribute to nothing, as always.