Trevor Shackles: It's Becoming Impossible to Have Hope The Senators can't win with Eugene Melnyk

He's an owner who's broke and lives off a line of credit against the value of the team. On top of that he bills the interest charge on that debt against the Sens balance sheet claiming they lose money

He basically uses the Sens as his personal ponzi scheme borrowing from Peter to pay Paul

As Sens fans, it looks like we are in for a very rough ride over the next 5 years. Stone and Duchene are almost locks to leave, meaning that we will a bottom feeding team for sure for 2-3 years after the current year as Chabot and Tkachuk are the two top talents on the team.

As for 5 years from now, maybe good times will be back. And just maybe, Melnyk will be gone.

Your article is a bit short on facts.

By all accounts, Sens did offer EK at least 11M but they couldn't front load it like the recent big signings. Karlsson wasn't very flexible with the terms.

Karlsson wasn't telling the whole truth either when he said he didn't ask to be traded. While that may be true, by telling management that he wanted no part of a rebuild and refusing to accept the fair offer on the table, he forced Dorion into trading him. He knew what he was doing.

I have no regrets in seeing him leave. My only regret is that Dorion is a terrible GM who couldn't handle Hoffman and Karlsson's trades so we got shafted royally again.

Your article is a bit short on facts.

By all accounts, Sens did offer EK at least 11M but they couldn't front load it like the recent big signings. Karlsson wasn't very flexible with the terms.

Karlsson wasn't telling the whole truth either when he said he didn't ask to be traded. While that may be true, by telling management that he wanted no part of a rebuild and refusing to accept the fair offer on the table, he forced Dorion into trading him. He knew what he was doing.

I have no regrets in seeing him leave. My only regret is that Dorion is a terrible GM who couldn't handle Hoffman and Karlsson's trades so we got shafted royally again.
- SENSible_Fan

- 21peter

Your article is a bit short on facts.

By all accounts, Sens did offer EK at least 11M but they couldn't front load it like the recent big signings. Karlsson wasn't very flexible with the terms.

Karlsson wasn't telling the whole truth either when he said he didn't ask to be traded. While that may be true, by telling management that he wanted no part of a rebuild and refusing to accept the fair offer on the table, he forced Dorion into trading him. He knew what he was doing.

I have no regrets in seeing him leave. My only regret is that Dorion is a terrible GM who couldn't handle Hoffman and Karlsson's trades so we got shafted royally again.
- SENSible_Fan

They did not offer him 11, it was 10x8, and there wasn't even a real negotiation. Also, how can you blame him for not wanting to stay with the organization with the state that it's in? The reason they are where they are right now is because of Melnyk

Your article is a bit short on facts.

By all accounts, Sens did offer EK at least 11M but they couldn't front load it like the recent big signings. Karlsson wasn't very flexible with the terms.

Karlsson wasn't telling the whole truth either when he said he didn't ask to be traded. While that may be true, by telling management that he wanted no part of a rebuild and refusing to accept the fair offer on the table, he forced Dorion into trading him. He knew what he was doing.

I have no regrets in seeing him leave. My only regret is that Dorion is a terrible GM who couldn't handle Hoffman and Karlsson's trades so we got shafted royally again.
- SENSible_Fan

thats the exact opposite of what was reported to be offered. They gave him a a dollar amount of 80m over 8 years...there was no structure to the contract offered, no break downs of salary or trade protection etc. Just gave him that dollar figure which he rejected as its not a real contract offered and then moved onto "trade talks"

It was a shell and try to safe face, we tried to resign him attempt before they were going to trade him. Sens management is one of the dumbest in the league with how poorly they telegraph their moves and are so transparent. When Eugene was mad at Karlsson when he said he wanted to be paid fair market value. The writing was on the wall for him back then, they were trading him bc no one makes Eugene do something he doesnt want to do

As Sens fans, it looks like we are in for a very rough ride over the next 5 years. Stone and Duchene are almost locks to leave, meaning that we will a bottom feeding team for sure for 2-3 years after the current year as Chabot and Tkachuk are the two top talents on the team.

As for 5 years from now, maybe good times will be back. And just maybe, Melnyk will be gone.
- SensFan25

If the current trends continue Ottawa will be lucky if the team isn't moved to Quebec City in the next five years.

The July 1st offer was a formality at that point. Before it got to negotiating, there was a discussion with Karlsson and the plan to rebuild was put forth. Dorion said he wanted to keep a few veterans to help with the rebuild. It has been reported that EK was wanting to win while he was in his prime and was not interested in being part of a rebuild. In essence, he told Dorion no thanks. The offer had to be tabled because a promise had been made to fans but Karlsson had already made the decsion to move on, even if he didn't expressly ask for a trade.

The July 1st offer was a formality at that point. Before it got to negotiating, there was a discussion with Karlsson and the plan to rebuild was put forth. Dorion said he wanted to keep a few veterans to help with the rebuild. It has been reported that EK was wanting to win while he was in his prime and was not interested in being part of a rebuild. In essence, he told Dorion no thanks. The offer had to be tabled because a promise had been made to fans but Karlsson had already made the decsion to move on, even if he didn't expressly ask for a trade.
- SENSible_Fan

There is no way you actually believe that....they didnt make the decision to rebuild back in February, they really are just winging this right now and if I was a sens fan I would be furious that they are trying to spoon feed this false narrative

If they did, they would have accepted the reported superior offers from teams like Vegas at the deadline, the better packages on July 5th from Dallas and Tampa. A team that is rebuilding doesnt refuse to trade Hoffman in the division bc they dont want to play against him. If you are rebuilding who cares, you take the better package and not be embarrassed by the Sharks getting a better return on Hoffman than the Sens

The July 1st offer was a formality at that point. Before it got to negotiating, there was a discussion with Karlsson and the plan to rebuild was put forth. Dorion said he wanted to keep a few veterans to help with the rebuild. It has been reported that EK was wanting to win while he was in his prime and was not interested in being part of a rebuild. In essence, he told Dorion no thanks. The offer had to be tabled because a promise had been made to fans but Karlsson had already made the decsion to move on, even if he didn't expressly ask for a trade.
- SENSible_Fan

Dorion literally said him and Melnyk agreed in February that Karlsson wasn't part of their plans moving forward.

There is no way you actually believe that....they didnt make the decision to rebuild back in February, they really are just winging this right now and if I was a sens fan I would be furious that they are trying to spoon feed this false narrative

If they did, they would have accepted the reported superior offers from teams like Vegas at the deadline, the better packages on July 5th from Dallas and Tampa. A team that is rebuilding doesnt refuse to trade Hoffman in the division bc they dont want to play against him. If you are rebuilding who cares, you take the better package and not be embarrassed by the Sharks getting a better return on Hoffman than the Sens
- DDM-Coga

Those reported trade offers were either false, on the condition of a signed EK, or nixed by EK. As stupid as Dorion is, highly doubtful he would have turned down any of those offers.

On Hoffman, there's no info out there to suggest that a better offer had been made in the east. It's not impossible but it couldn't have been that much better to warrant trading him in the east.

There is no way you actually believe that....they didnt make the decision to rebuild back in February, they really are just winging this right now and if I was a sens fan I would be furious that they are trying to spoon feed this false narrative

If they did, they would have accepted the reported superior offers from teams like Vegas at the deadline, the better packages on July 5th from Dallas and Tampa. A team that is rebuilding doesnt refuse to trade Hoffman in the division bc they dont want to play against him. If you are rebuilding who cares, you take the better package and not be embarrassed by the Sharks getting a better return on Hoffman than the Sens
- DDM-Coga

I hate the way you respond to people...."there is no way you actually believe that"...

Of course he does, that's why he made the fricking point in the first place. You like throwing these phrases in to try and deter people from actually standing behind their opinion. Try and be creative - show that you can actually make good points (which you do from time to time) without insulting someone.

As far I as what I heard Karlsson WAS offered 11m x 8

Those reported trade offers were either false, on the condition of a signed EK, or nixed by EK. As stupid as Dorion is, highly doubtful he would have turned down any of those offers.

On Hoffman, there's no info out there to suggest that a better offer had been made in the east. It's not impossible but it couldn't have been that much better to warrant trading him in the east.
- SENSible_Fan

the point was that if a team truly was set on rebuilding and made the decision in February then they wouldnt have been trying to put Bobby Ryan into a Karlsson trade mudding the waters of a trade

I would take reported trade talks from actual paid beat writers and NHL insiders who had frame work of the deal reported as more fact than a blind faith in some post rationing videos from Dorion and Eugene lately.

The moves they have done since they have said "we decided to rebuild" in February are almost the opposite of what a rebuilding team would be doing

Trying to stay positive here. From the list of star players who left:

-Yashin - Had already sat out a year. Flipped for one of best returns ever. Out of league what, 3-4 years later

-Chara - Mistake. Redden's fall from
Team Canada dman to absolutely stinking is almost as sudden and unexpected as the last year here. They chose the wrong one to sign
-Heatley - Didn't want to go to Edmonton, career spiraled quickly after traded
-Spezza - A few good seasons after, but stinks now
-Alfie - Big Mistake
-Turris - TBD
-Hoffman - TBD
-Karlsson - TBD

It's not like every player went on to have 5-7 awesome years. If a star player doesn't ride off into sunset with a cup, how many of them are really celebrated and go out greatly?

Again, trying to stay positive.....

I hate the way you respond to people...."there is no way you actually believe that"...

Of course he does, that's why he made the fricking point in the first place. You like throwing these phrases in to try and deter people from actually standing behind their opinion. Try and be creative - show that you can actually make good points (which you do from time to time) without insulting someone.

As far I as what I heard Karlsson WAS offered 11m x 8
- AlfieisKing

Thats not insulting and nor was I insulting him so you dont have to be hyper sensitive.

https://www.cbc.ca/sports...-80-trade-talks-1.4732354

Dennis Bernstein on TSN690 says the Ottawa Senators offered Erik Karlsson an 8-year $80M deal, he did not take it.

— NHL Prospects Watcher (@Prospects_Watch) July 4, 2018

CBC Sports and TSN Radio both saying 80m 8. years, so not sure where the 11m came from. No mention of 11m per from any credible hockey sources. I am agreeing with the all the Melynk hate bc he deserve it. He has destroyed this team in the past 10 months for no reason and the message they are sending is one of mixed messages, I dont believe for a second they have a master plan set.

They were pushed up against a wall and ultimately moved EK at a very weak moment when it comes to trade talks

Aren’t you the guy who said he’ll delete his account?
- Steven_Seagull

He says a lot of things...

Thats not insulting and nor was I insulting him so you dont have to be hyper sensitive.

https://www.cbc.ca/sports...-80-trade-talks-1.4732354

Dennis Bernstein on TSN690 says the Ottawa Senators offered Erik Karlsson an 8-year $80M deal, he did not take it.

— NHL Prospects Watcher (@Prospects_Watch) July 4, 2018

CBC Sports and TSN Radio both saying 80m 8. years, so not sure where the 11m came from. No mention of 11m per from any credible hockey sources. I am agreeing with the all the Melynk hate bc he deserve it. He has destroyed this team in the past 10 months for no reason and the message they are sending is one of mixed messages, I dont believe for a second they have a master plan set.

They were pushed up against a wall and ultimately moved EK at a very weak moment when it comes to trade talks
- DDM-Coga

https://theprovince.com/s...b6-4632-badd-0ccfb4b37c20

https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ottawa-senators/garrioch-erik-karlsson-trade-talks-heat-up-with-three-weeks-to-camp/wcm/6f0b447a-5db6-4632-badd-0ccfb4b37c20
- SENSible_Fan

you might have to elaborate on this one, north of 80m doesnt mean its a 11m offered

I would take reported trade talks from actual paid beat writers and NHL insiders who had frame work of the deal reported as more fact than a blind faith in some post rationing videos from Dorion and Eugene lately.

- DDM-Coga

https://www.12up.com/post...-erik-karlsson-trade-news

Even credible sources get it wrong. Just look at the names that were thrown by the so-called insiders during the summer. Turns out the offers weren't anything close to those rumours.

you might have to elaborate on this one,
- DDM-Coga

There's a paragraph that mentions that he was offered north of $80M. That was repeated by many insiders as well.

https://www.12up.com/posts/6110404-tsn-reporter-apologizes-for-fake-erik-karlsson-trade-news

Even credible sources get it wrong. Just look at the names that were thrown by the so-called insiders during the summer. Turns out the offers weren't anything close to those rumours.
- SENSible_Fan

Shawn Simpson is not an insider, so him getting something wrong isnt shocking

and it was Friedman who was the one alluding to the framework of a Vegas deal for Karlsson, so yeah I would tend to believe what he is reporting

the point of this is all isnt who reported what, the point is if the Sens had a plan"to rebuild" in February they wouldnt trade a generational talent at the worst possible time a day before camp opens. That is probably one of the worst times to get the best return on your player

There's a paragraph that mentions that he was offered north of $80M. That was repeated by many insiders as well.
- SENSible_Fan

North of 80m isnt 11mx8 years

There is no way you actually believe that....they didnt make the decision to rebuild back in February, they really are just winging this right now and if I was a sens fan I would be furious that they are trying to spoon feed this false narrative

If they did, they would have accepted the reported superior offers from teams like Vegas at the deadline, the better packages on July 5th from Dallas and Tampa. A team that is rebuilding doesnt refuse to trade Hoffman in the division bc they dont want to play against him. If you are rebuilding who cares, you take the better package and not be embarrassed by the Sharks getting a better return on Hoffman than the Sens
- DDM-Coga

He's not being very SENSible, is he?