The Sens can't afford Laine. The Sens can't afford to pay anyone really.

The "trolls" have been predicting this very situation for a few years now. They seemed to have been able to see the writing was on the wall
- walshyleafsfan

They won’t want to pay Laine a huge bonus up front for sure....the guy in Winnipeg has all the $ in the world but doesn’t like paying front end loaded contracts either. He didn’t even do for Sheifele ...After what Mathews got....I’m sure all the young RFA’s are wanting some sort of front end loaded deals.

Patrick Laine might be in play if the jets can sign Mark Stone..

Interesting...
- aries1976

If the Peg was stupid enough to trade Laine.. that would make twice that they’ve traded absolutely premium goal scorers ... you’d have thunk they learned a lesson with Selanne. But hey once again the Ducks will be more than glad to help you out.

I think you give them too much credit in the last statement. I get your point, but I beleive they just mismanaged the assets....just a bit of understatement. This all points to one big issue. Melnyk doesn’t have the cash to compete. Or if he does he won’t spend it. While teams like Toronto can float monster bonus structures, Melnyk doesn’t have that capital to compete. He can’t afford to pay Stone and Duchene 15 million in bonus’s up front. The guy has to refinance to just make payroll.
He’ll sell because the debt will become to large....your bang on about getting the big contracts off the books in order to make the team look more affordable. Throw in the new arena and all of a sudden Melnyk’s price tag will go through the roof. Ottawa fans just have to hope the new owner buys the team for the right reasons.
- landros 2

The deal on the new arena is now in arbitration between Melnyk and his original LeBreton partners. The second LeBreton bid group has also been included. Everyone in the discussions has huge money except for Melnyk. It includes some of the wealthiest families in Canada. Melnyk has a signed deal with the original group that is now suing him for $700m.

It will get settled. But it is entirely ugly.

LeBreton and related projects are valued in excess of $7b. It is far and away the largest redevelopment project in Ottawa's history. It is not the Sens, it is LeBreton that Melnyk is trying to scam.

The deal on the new arena is now in arbitration between Melnyk and his original LeBreton partners. The second LeBreton bid group has also been included. Everyone in the discussions has huge money except for Melnyk. It includes some of the wealthiest families in Canada. Melnyk has a signed deal with the original group that is now suing him for $700m.

It will get settled. But it is entirely ugly.

LeBreton and related projects are valued in excess of $7b. It is far and away the largest redevelopment project in Ottawa's history. It is not the Sens, it is LeBreton that Melnyk is trying to skim.
- spatso

But the teams value will increase with the new arena. Correct ? I really think that’s his end game. If this team continues to bleed $ the NHL will have to step in. I guess we’ll see. Hopefully they get a new owner who has deep pockets and doesn’t try and scam his way to riches on the back of the Ottawa fans.
People with that much $ are generally pretty smart, they need to see a team that can be viable into the future..a new arena , not one 25 minutes out of town, goes a long way to securing that.

To be honest, I must've only seen the delusional fans, which seems like it makes up a large percentage of the fan base, because the majority of posts I've seen scoffed at the idea Stone and Duchene probably wouldn't re-sign
- walshyleafsfan

I honestly don't think they aren't re-signing because the team didn't offer them the right money.....I think they aren't re-signing because they don't see an opportunity to win here....and they certainly aren't wrong in the short to medium term.

What an lololol moment. I feel better about my oilers now. Should have let brady go last year instead.
- oil90

NOTHING....I repeat....NOTHING, should make you feel better about the oilers.

you are, hands down, the worst managed team in the league, and it's not close.

I honestly don't think they aren't re-signing because the team didn't offer them the right money.....I think they aren't re-signing because they don't see an opportunity to win here....and they certainly aren't wrong in the short to medium term.
- sensarmy_11

If they offered Duchene 8 years at 8 mil per....then they offered more the enough.

it was a bizarre move at the time but it only turned catastrophic when Dorion double down on it last summer and deferred the pick to 2019. as good as Brady Tkachuk is and will be, he's not going to be a franchise player. everyone knew the Sens were going to be awful this year and the smart move would have been to bite the bullet on the 2018 pick, move Duchene before the draft (when he would have a lot more value than he does as a rental today) to get back into the top half of the first round and recoup a prospect. it's just lousy asset management and shortsighted GMing.

Stop even discussing Laine, it’ll never happen unless Ottawa is the one making an offer the Jets can’t refuse. How he is playing right now is irrelevant. I feel stupid even having to tell anyone this.

it was a bizarre move at the time but it only turned catastrophic when Dorion double down on it last summer and deferred the pick to 2019. as good as Brady Tkachuk is and will be, he's not going to be a franchise player. everyone knew the Sens were going to be awful this year and the smart move would have been to bite the bullet on the 2018 pick, move Duchene before the draft (when he would have a lot more value than he does as a rental today) to get back into the top half of the first round and recoup a prospect. it's just lousy asset management and shortsighted GMing.
- DoubleDown

Neither will Hughes. let's be clear here, we aren't talking a McDavid or Matthews type player here.....hell, I wouldnt' even put him in the same category as Dahlin.

I think he projects to be a very good, but not great player. I'm not even convinced that he'll be much better than Tkachuk.

I honestly wouldn't trade Tkachuk straight up for that pick back. Brady brings a unique skill set that I think will benefit this team moving forward.........maybe Hughes will bring a bit more offense, but I'd still prefer Tkachuk.

obviously I would prefer to have both, but in terms of talking about whether or not we should have kept the pick this year vs last year, I'm happy with the decision, regardless of where this years pick ends up being.

Stop even discussing Laine, it’ll never happen unless Ottawa is the one making an offer the Jets can’t refuse. How he is playing right now is irrelevant. I feel stupid even having to tell anyone this.
- Ross77

agreed......I'm shocked it's being so heavily discussed in your thread too

I guess a large part of how people react to this situation has more to do with their expectations from the beginning of the season.

I have never believed the Sens would resign any of Stone, Duchene, Dzingle or Ceci.

The slippery Melnyk actually made a mistake in his Borowiecki interview when he broke down and in a moment of weakness he actually told the truth. Specifically, up to 15 players will be gone from the starting roster.

For me, this has always been about ownership in general and LeBreton in particular. If you are surprised by any of this, perhaps you were not paying attention.

If you are a potential buyer of the Sens, you just love the books and the fact that there are no long term contingent liabilities that need be assumed on the transfer of ownership.

To suggest the Sens have not planned well or outcomes are different than expected is nonsense. Everything was calculated, including wanting to dupe fans into believing they really wanted to keep Methot, Turris, Karlsson, Zibanejad, Brassard, Karlsson, Hoffman, Stone, Duchene, Dzingle and Ceci as well as some others that have drifted away.
- spatso

100% agree.
The silver lining is the books will look good, the team is sold and the new owners have a cupboard full of young talent.

I honestly don't think they aren't re-signing because the team didn't offer them the right money.....I think they aren't re-signing because they don't see an opportunity to win here....and they certainly aren't wrong in the short to medium term.
- sensarmy_11

I don't believe that for a moment. despite what some are saying, I do not believe the Sens want to sign any long term contracts with anyone.

But the teams value will increase with the new arena. Correct ? I really think that’s his end game. If this team continues to bleed $ the NHL will have to step in. I guess we’ll see. Hopefully they get a new owner who has deep pockets and doesn’t try and scam his way to riches on the back of the Ottawa fans.
People with that much $ are generally pretty smart, they need to see a team that can be viable into the future..a new arena , not one 25 minutes out of town, goes a long way to securing that.
- landros 2

LeBreton is the most precious piece of development land in the entire Ottawa area. The project itself is amazing and will change the commercial face of Ottawa. It is right at the centre of the new LRT system that is scheduled to come on line next month.

agreed......I'm shocked it's being so heavily discussed in your thread too
- sensarmy_11

I guess every site has some questionable thinking folks

Neither will Hughes. let's be clear here, we aren't talking a McDavid or Matthews type player here.....hell, I wouldnt' even put him in the same category as Dahlin.

I think he projects to be a very good, but not great player. I'm not even convinced that he'll be much better than Tkachuk.

I honestly wouldn't trade Tkachuk straight up for that pick back. Brady brings a unique skill set that I think will benefit this team moving forward.........maybe Hughes will bring a bit more offense, but I'd still prefer Tkachuk.

obviously I would prefer to have both, but in terms of talking about whether or not we should have kept the pick this year vs last year, I'm happy with the decision, regardless of where this years pick ends up being.
- sensarmy_11

Very good! A+

You just went full rebuild.

The only way to survive the insanity is to emotionally put yourself into a full rebuild mindset.

Once we get by the crushing mess Melnyk has created, the fun will be in watching the kids grow into a contender. It will happen far faster than some people predict.

LeBreton is the most precious piece of development land in the entire Ottawa area. The project itself is amazing and will change the commercial face of Ottawa. It is right at the centre of the new LRT system that is scheduled to come on line next month.
- spatso

I've been hoping for LeBreton going through, simply because I can see it's vacant desolate landscape from my windows and I would love to walk to a game instead of the nightmarish 417 experience at rush hour.

I've been hoping for LeBreton going through, simply because I can see it's vacant desolate landscape from my windows and I would love to walk to a game instead of the nightmarish 417 experience at rush hour.
- AdamFrench

It is a lot more than a new downtown attraction. The market, Rideau Centre and Sparks Street are not of this century. They are entirely outside what people want to experience today. And, it is a wicked eyesore the way it sits now in a constant state of predevelopment.

So, are you part of the LeBreton development, Nanny Goat Hill or in the magnificent Cathedral hill condo built by the Westniede Group?

It is a lot more than a new downtown attraction. The market, Rideau Centre and Sparks Street are not of this century. They are entirely outside what people want to experience today. And, it is a wicked eyesore the way it sits now in a constant state of predevelopment.

So, are you part of the LeBreton development, Nanny Goat Hill or in the magnificent Cathedral hill condo built by the Westniede Group?
- spatso

I'm in a house near Scott Street and the O-Train

I'm in a house near Scott Street and the O-Train
- AdamFrench

Nice area. When my wife and I were first married we lived on Parkdale near Tunney's Pasture. Not too long and none of it will look like we remember.

Nice area. When my wife and I were first married we lived on Parkdale near Tunney's Pasture. Not too long and none of it will look like we remember.
- spatso

Yes, it's changing rapidly. 7 infills within 200 meters of my place. Everybody is trying to make thin/tall condos everywhere.

Not a fan of this team, but I live here, so have no choice but to follow them really closely. Not a rocket scientist or a financial guru.. just a hockey fan

A couple years ago I was marginally concerned about how improved the Sens would be if they *added* Matt Duchene. I was relieved when they moved Turris out to accommodate him. Is Duchene better than Turris? - absolutely - but were all the assets Sens gave up on top of Turris worth the production delta between the 2? Not a chance.

They upgraded the #1 C position by 30pts best case in exchange for Hammond, Bowers, 2018 or 2019 1st and a 3rd.

The fact that Duchene intends to test free agency should surprise no one. He was pretty vocal about the org in that Uber, and deftly stick-handled that situation and managed to put it all on Wideman. No one has mentioned poor Guy Boucher lately, but can only assume he'll be back next year? Who else would work for the biggest buffoon in hockey ops, for the lowest coach salary in the league? And from a player perspective - why stay or sign??? - when the leadership triumvirate is Melnyk, Dorion and Boucher.

I don't know where this goes from here - I would guess rinse and repeat for the next decade - just feel bad for (most) fans.

Yes, it's changing rapidly. 7 infills within 200 meters of my place. Everybody is trying to make thin/tall condos everywhere.
- AdamFrench

We live in the country on Rideau. If we move back to city, my wife wants Westboro, right beside Lulu Lemon.

Not a fan of this team, but I live here, so have no choice but to follow them really closely. Not a rocket scientist or a financial guru.. just a hockey fan

A couple years ago I was marginally concerned about how improved the Sens would be if they *added* Matt Duchene. I was relieved when they moved Turris out to accommodate him. Is Duchene better than Turris? - absolutely - but were all the assets Sens gave up on top of Turris worth the production delta between the 2? Not a chance.

They upgraded the #1 C position by 30pts best case in exchange for Hammond, Bowers, 2018 or 2019 1st and a 3rd.

The fact that Duchene intends to test free agency should surprise no one. He was pretty vocal about the org in that Uber, and deftly stick-handled that situation and managed to put it all on Wideman. No one has mentioned poor Guy Boucher lately, but can only assume he'll be back next year? Who else would work for the biggest buffoon in hockey ops, for the lowest coach salary in the league? And from a player perspective - why stay or sign??? - when the leadership triumvirate is Melnyk, Dorion and Boucher.

I don't know where this goes from here - I would guess rinse and repeat for the next decade - just feel bad for (most) fans.
- grim

Like a lot of people you entirely miss the scheme. Nobody intended to resign Karlsson. They refused to negotiate with Turris and traded him. They failed to protect Methot and give him a new deal. They did not negotiate and settle a deal with Stone last year when he was an RFA. They helped him become a UFA on an accelerated basis.

These guys want to avoid committing to any new contracts.

Short term the entire thing looks goofy. But the rebound based on young assets should be very strong and will come much sooner than some people predict.

Like a lot of people you entirely miss the scheme. Nobody intended to resign Karlsson. They refused to negotiate with Turris and traded him. They failed to protect Methot and give him a new deal. They did not negotiate and settle a deal with Stone last year when he was an RFA. They helped him become a UFA on an accelerated basis.

These guys want to avoid committing to any new contracts.

Short term the entire thing looks goofy. But the rebound based on young assets should be very strong and will come much sooner than some people predict.
- spatso

In short, Melnyk is an idiot cheapskate, Dorion is an incompetent buffoon, and we should believe nothing coming out of this crazy organization besides groping uber drivers and locker room drama.