Watch the Islanders. Some fans and media are calling for Lou to go all in on Duchene.
They certainly have the assets to get a deal done. Word is that Nashville is the other contender but they are pretty short on high end prospects.

I have said since the beginning of the season that I see Duchene as a great fit for Long Island. The team with the assets and need that might push them aside is St. Louis.

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.
- RafiDRW

In short it is about money and business opportunity.

In short it is about money and business opportunity.
- spatso

And groping. Don’t forget that.

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

Right, everyone but you "entirely misses the scheme". Of course they want to avoid committing to any new contracts. Don't need to be a rocket surgeon to see that. I feel bad for (most) Sens.

You know what will happen sooner than some people predict? They wont commit to Chabot, Tkachuk or any of the other alleged young high-end assets.

What won't happen? "Years of unparalleled success"

Right, everyone but you "entirely misses the scheme". Of course they want to avoid committing to any new contracts. Don't need to be a rocket surgeon to see that. I feel bad for (most) Sens.

You know what will happen sooner than some people predict? They wont commit to Chabot, Tkachuk or any of the other alleged young high-end assets.

What won't happen? "Years of unparalleled success"
- grim

I choose not to believe your assessment of situation

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

(frank) that would be a costly endeavor these days.

I choose not to believe your assessment of situation
- spatso

Nor I yours, but end of day, we're actually pretty aligned - No reason to believe anything changes until ownership does.

How can you feel better after so many first picks, no money issues but no results?

Sorry bro, your team is a bigger train wreck
- DutchSenators

The oilers have a farm team on a 15 game winning streak bro. Oh ya they also have the best centre depth in the league signed long term.

The oilers have a farm team on a 15 game winning streak bro. Oh ya they also have the best centre depth in the league signed long term.
- oil90

they also have the worst winger, defensive, and goaltending depth signed long term...

The oilers have a farm team on a 15 game winning streak bro. Oh ya they also have the best centre depth in the league signed long term.
- oil90

How's that working for ya?

The stupidity of the Duchene for Turris plus trade was that the marginal add from this was circumvented by the giant minus of subbing Ceci in where Methot was once clearing up the defensive zone.

And the problem with the theory of moving out expensive assets towards a sale giving the new owners a clean slate is that in this business there is a minimum inventory threshold, and if you replace excellent quality value for money inventory with somebody else's junk, your image drops, sales drop you may have issues clearing out the poor inventory to relaunch the business, and in this market, there is a finite amount of top inventory to be had. I think buyers would place value on a portfolio of good inventory to give them options.

Melnyk was desperate for playoff revenue from another deep playoff run

It is widely underestimated how broke Melnyk is, He is literally kicking the can down the road trying to keep his head above water until the LeBreton Flats deal was done and the franchise saw a bump in value. He borrows against this value to support himself and pay the interest on his massive debt

The franchise value has stagnated, thus he has no ability to raid cash from his credit line

If he could sell players or picks straight up for cash like Pocklington did, he would

The stupidity of the Duchene for Turris plus trade was that the marginal add from this was circumvented by the giant minus of subbing Ceci in where Methot was once clearing up the defensive zone.

And the problem with the theory of moving out expensive assets towards a sale giving the new owners a clean slate is that in this business there is a minimum inventory threshold, and if you replace excellent quality value for money inventory with somebody else's junk, your image drops, sales drop you may have issues clearing out the poor inventory to relaunch the business, and in this market, there is a finite amount of top inventory to be had. I think buyers would place value on a portfolio of good inventory to give them options.
- WillieAA

the only thing I disagree with is saying that turris to Duchene is a marginal add.....it's not. you're upgrading from a clear 2nd line center to a clear 1st line cetner.

since the trade:

kyle turris - 101 GP, 19 goals, 41 assists, 60 pts

matt Duchene - 117 GP, 50 goals, 55 assits, 105 pts

how on earth is that a "marginal add"

I used to make fun of the poopshow called the Sens, but it’s gotten to the point where this is just pathetic and embarrassing. Sens fans deserve much better. Keep your head up folks. Great article Trevor.

If it makes you feel better it would of been

-Shane Bowers
-Sam Girard
-Vladislav Kamenev (or lesser prospect/pick)
-2018 Nashville Second round pick ** (Filip Hallander)
-2019 own first round pick
-2018 own third round pick
- Fathom

No, because Ottawa gave up a 1st in the deal to get Duchene, the 2nd that the Preds gave up was just part of the complicated 3-way deal. I still think Ottawa would've gotten a 1st out of it

Matt Duchene has purchased a town house in Nashville hmmmmmm wonder why

Not sure if mentioned earlier, but I can’t fault the Sens for going all in:

-Getting to ECF be Pens was a bit lucky, but Karlsson was hurt

-They knew they couldn’t get him signed.

Why not go all in, have two seasons with 65 to win it all before him, Stone and Hoffman are due new contracts? Betting that the first round pick wouldn’t be much.

Everything blew up in their faces, but I don’t see how you can fault the all in approach at the time. Getting a number one center to try to win it all with 65’s last two years...

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

ya, a potential buyer really wants a totally de-valued team with zero assets but they're willing to pay a 600 million dollar expansion fee equivalent. In a gate driven league you NEED players for fans to come out and watch.

ya, a potential buyer really wants a totally de-valued team with zero assets but they're willing to pay a 600 million dollar expansion fee equivalent. In a gate driven league you NEED players for fans to come out and watch.
- LeftCoaster

I would put a large sum of money on the fact that, if melnyk sold the team, you'd have atleast a 15-20% spike in attendance based on that alone, regardless of the team on the ice.

Matt Duchene has purchased a town house in Nashville hmmmmmm wonder why
- roadzy

Cause he thinks hes a country singer??

I used to make fun of the poopshow called the Sens, but it’s gotten to the point where this is just pathetic and embarrassing. Sens fans deserve much better. Keep your head up folks. Great article Trevor.
- FinnGod

It's been embarrassing and pathetic for awhile now, get with the times.

Matt Duchene has purchased a town house in Nashville hmmmmmm wonder why
- roadzy

just saw the report.....Matt Duchene bought an Air BnB property in Nashville, as an investment (not a house to live in), more than a year ago.

highly doubt a guy making 6 mil now, and about to make close to 9 mil a year, would buy a town house for him and his family.

not saying he won't get moved to Nashville, but using that as the basis for " a trade is about to happen " is just idiotic

I would put a large sum of money on the fact that, if melnyk sold the team, you'd have atleast a 15-20% spike in attendance based on that alone, regardless of the team on the ice.
- sensarmy_11

They should put that in the sales contract

They should put that in the sales contract
- LeftCoaster

I’m adding it in right now. I’ll fax it over.

They should put that in the sales contract
- LeftCoaster

I honestly do think people underestimate the "melnyk factor" on the attendance though. that man is almost UNANIMOUSLY hated by every person in that city (who follows hockey).

even if the rink moved downtown, I think if melnyk was still the owner you'd continue to have attendance issues.

he's the most hated man in a city that boasts the entire federal government...that right there should tell you something.