Trevor Shackles: How Long Would You Keep Watching? How bad would the Senators have to be for you to stop watching altogether?

It's almost better to have a garbage fire of a team than a mediocre team, especially if you're getting paid to write about them. The Senators have been in the news for years now. There's always something to talk about. How would you like to be a fan/blogger of a team like the Wild. They've never been serious contenders, but there's never really been anything to complain about. They just kind of are.

Having an owner like Melnyk can bring the fanbase together. It gives them something to complain about together. The hockey is still good. And to quote a drastically underrated movie, "The sweet is never as sweet without the sour."

I get what your saying...but think of the futility we Leaf fans have endured! Still bleed Blue through and through. Its tough I know, but there is no where to go but up...and rest assured, Eugene the dancing machine will be gone....someday....

As bad as the Sens are, the Avs have lost 8 in a row now. My team getting hard to watch as well

As bad as the Sens are, the Avs have lost 8 in a row now. My team getting hard to watch as well
- Avsrchamps01

at least you have your 1st (and ours !)

Always, forever

I know it sounds discouraging. But, be patient.

Think of the Ottawa Senators as a normal commercial file undergoing financial reorganization, including recapitalization and a revision in corporate governance.

If that is what is happening (and I am certain that it is) the file is actually moving at a fairly rapid pace.

Voluntary arbitration is far more than just getting a 3rd party to try to get everyone to be nice and get along. Every stakeholder, note holder and guarantor will have some influence on the outcome. If the talks fail, it will not simply continue on and be business as usual, it never works that way in files like this.

I think the arbitration aims to establish an orderly business like transition that adequately provides for new capitalization and an updated ownership and governance of the Ottawa Senators and the LeBreton initiative. However, if arbitration fails, look for a more formal legal proceeding to be initiated by Melnyk's creditors, perhaps a petition under the Canada Companies Arrangement Act for a Court appointed monitor to achieve the same ends.

The idea of a physical relocation of the Senators is a non starter. Anybody who buys the Sens also buys ownership of the $700m Ruddy lawsuit. Nobody touches any deal with Melnyk unless they get Ruddy to sign off on the arrangement.

I know it seems dark at the moment. But it always has to be this way before resolution comes. It might seem upside down, for now. But darker news today always means a quicker resolution of the core issue.

Hang tough, I am looking out towards the beach. It is still very dark. But first light will break through soon enough. It is going to be a wonderful sun rise.

I know it sounds discouraging. But, be patient.

Think of the Ottawa Senators as a normal commercial file undergoing financial reorganization, including recapitalization and a revision in corporate governance.

If that is what is happening (and I am certain that it is) the file is actually moving at a fairly rapid pace.

Voluntary arbitration is far more than just getting a 3rd party to try to get everyone to be nice and get along. Every stakeholder, note holder and guarantor will have some influence on the outcome. If the talks fail, it will not simply continue on and be business as usual, it never works that way in files like this.

I think the arbitration aims to establish an orderly business like transition that adequately provides for new capitalization and an updated ownership and governance of the Ottawa Senators and the LeBreton initiative. However, if arbitration fails, look for a more formal legal proceeding to be initiated by Melnyk's creditors, perhaps a petition under the Canada Companies Arrangement Act for a Court appointed monitor to achieve the same ends.

The idea of a physical relocation of the Senators is a non starter. Anybody who buys the Sens also buys ownership of the $700m Ruddy lawsuit. Nobody touches any deal with Melnyk unless they get Ruddy to sign off on the arrangement.

I know it seems dark at the moment. But it always has to be this way before resolution comes. It might seem upside down, for now. But darker news today always means a quicker resolution of the core issue.

Hang tough, I am looking out towards the beach. It is still very dark. But first light will break through soon enough. It is going to be a wonderful sun rise.
- spatso

How very poetic -- here's a Haiku for you:

Spatso's Delusions
Don't Worry Melnyk Will Sell
It's All A Process

I think it would depend on the context of the relocation.


If a new ownership group came in, and then immediately moved the team to another city when it seemed they'd be staying and investing in the team, then it may force me to change my allegiance.

The league ran Phoenix and bent over backwards to save them. I’m no Sens fan but I don’t want them to move. The league should buy out Melnyk or whatever his name his and run the team until a proper owner can be found. Is this an option?

For as terrible as the owner seems, The Sens always seem to draft and develop well.
I'd lean towards them becoming a decent team sooner than folks assume they will.

The Senators have become the Montreal Expos. Draft and develop players and then trade them away when they become stars because ownership won't pay market value.

Sens fans have to just hope the current weak ownership sells the team rather than relocate them as was the end for the Expos.

Go a decade without making the playoffs and then get back to me.

Go a decade without making the playoffs and then get back to me.
- BINGO!

We’re about to......any advice?

The Senators have become the Montreal Expos. Draft and develop players and then trade them away when they become stars because ownership won't pay market value.

Sens fans have to just hope the current weak ownership sells the team rather than relocate them as was the end for the Expos.

- punchanello77

^This ... it worked for a while in Montreal until fans got totally fed up and stopped going to games. People are not stupid, when they feel you're just a development team for the richer markets they say (frank) IT.

Who can forget the EMPTY stands at the Big O during their last few years.

We’re about to......any advice?
- sensarmy_11

Laugh at them.

It's easier to laugh at how stupid the whole thing is than try and wrap your head around how bad they are.

And always keep in mind that what happens now is all about what they're gonna do in 4 years. Even if that 4 year mark fails.

This year i have only been to 2 games. Usually go to 10. Usually watch on tv every game and keep up with news and stats. This year maybe watched 10 games and could care less about stats and news. Ive invested a good amount of time and a lot of money since day 1 in the civic center just to be rewarded with the decimation of any hope.
I strongly suspect Melynk is deliberately alienating the fan base. So when no one shows up or cares any longer. He can go the league and say look i need to move.
2022 - Houston Senators.

I will continue to watch games and track the development of players within the organization. I, like most fans, have disconnected emotionally from the team due to the cheap and spiteful way that Melnyk runs the club. I can't really see things changing until there is a new team owner.

We’re about to......any advice?
- sensarmy_11

Enjoy the low points. Fans are just along for the ride. Wasn't so long ago the Leafs were in the same spot the Sens are in now.

Now, as a Leaf fan I hope your team is mired in an irreversible downward spiral and folds. But logic dictates that eventually they will be a competitive team once again. How quickly that happens relies solely on a competent management group. Hire guys like Burke or Chiarelli, and it will take longer than it should.

Enjoy the low points. Fans are just along for the ride. Wasn't so long ago the Leafs were in the same spot the Sens are in now.

Now, as a Leaf fan I hope your team is mired in an irreversible downward spiral and folds. But logic dictates that eventually they will be a competitive team once again. How quickly that happens relies solely on a competent management group. Hire guys like Burke or Chiarelli, and it will take longer than it should.
- BetterCallSaul

Yeah, in all fairness, they're in better shape for a proper rebuild than the Hurricanes were when they actually started theirs in 2014. When they talk about being competitive in 2021-2022 I can actually see it.

I know it sounds discouraging. But, be patient.

Think of the Ottawa Senators as a normal commercial file undergoing financial reorganization, including recapitalization and a revision in corporate governance.

If that is what is happening (and I am certain that it is) the file is actually moving at a fairly rapid pace.

Voluntary arbitration is far more than just getting a 3rd party to try to get everyone to be nice and get along. Every stakeholder, note holder and guarantor will have some influence on the outcome. If the talks fail, it will not simply continue on and be business as usual, it never works that way in files like this.

I think the arbitration aims to establish an orderly business like transition that adequately provides for new capitalization and an updated ownership and governance of the Ottawa Senators and the LeBreton initiative. However, if arbitration fails, look for a more formal legal proceeding to be initiated by Melnyk's creditors, perhaps a petition under the Canada Companies Arrangement Act for a Court appointed monitor to achieve the same ends.

The idea of a physical relocation of the Senators is a non starter. Anybody who buys the Sens also buys ownership of the $700m Ruddy lawsuit. Nobody touches any deal with Melnyk unless they get Ruddy to sign off on the arrangement.

I know it seems dark at the moment. But it always has to be this way before resolution comes. It might seem upside down, for now. But darker news today always means a quicker resolution of the core issue.

Hang tough, I am looking out towards the beach. It is still very dark. But first light will break through soon enough. It is going to be a wonderful sun rise.
- spatso

What a load of horse poop

Enjoy the low points. Fans are just along for the ride. Wasn't so long ago the Leafs were in the same spot the Sens are in now.

Now, as a Leaf fan I hope your team is mired in an irreversible downward spiral and folds. But logic dictates that eventually they will be a competitive team once again. How quickly that happens relies solely on a competent management group. Hire guys like Burke or Chiarelli, and it will take longer than it should.
- BetterCallSaul

You can add Jim Benning to that exclusive list

I know it sounds discouraging. But, be patient.

Think of the Ottawa Senators as a normal commercial file undergoing financial reorganization, including recapitalization and a revision in corporate governance.

If that is what is happening (and I am certain that it is) the file is actually moving at a fairly rapid pace.

Voluntary arbitration is far more than just getting a 3rd party to try to get everyone to be nice and get along. Every stakeholder, note holder and guarantor will have some influence on the outcome. If the talks fail, it will not simply continue on and be business as usual, it never works that way in files like this.

I think the arbitration aims to establish an orderly business like transition that adequately provides for new capitalization and an updated ownership and governance of the Ottawa Senators and the LeBreton initiative. However, if arbitration fails, look for a more formal legal proceeding to be initiated by Melnyk's creditors, perhaps a petition under the Canada Companies Arrangement Act for a Court appointed monitor to achieve the same ends.

The idea of a physical relocation of the Senators is a non starter. Anybody who buys the Sens also buys ownership of the $700m Ruddy lawsuit. Nobody touches any deal with Melnyk unless they get Ruddy to sign off on the arrangement.

I know it seems dark at the moment. But it always has to be this way before resolution comes. It might seem upside down, for now. But darker news today always means a quicker resolution of the core issue.

Hang tough, I am looking out towards the beach. It is still very dark. But first light will break through soon enough. It is going to be a wonderful sun rise.
- spatso

Melnyk is going to go down in flames and while everybody is suing each other the team will move to Quebec.

I'm close to the breaking point now but if they decided to do a full rebuild and decided to accumulate as many picks and prospects as possible and stop playing bad vets but thinking they're part of the solution, I'd be back on board.

Fans seem to like two things - winning, and the hope of future winning. Hopefully with some new drafted players and prospects added through trades the hope for future winning will make them fun to watch.
People seem to have such short memories as well. Sens have a decent history of winning after a horrible start to the league. Although the owner sucks, they have been competitive over the past few years, and they should be able to rebuild and be competitive again in a 3-4 years maybe? That has happened to ALOT of teams, Pittsburgh, Chicago, LA, Colorado and not to mention those horrendous years of TO, and the current state of EDM.
Its not currently great, but not as bad as it could be, and not the end of the world.