The inevitable is making its slow transition to reality for the Ottawa Senators. The team simply can’t continue to offer up the same excuse over and over again for a lack of production. The fan base has had enough and wants change. Well, if change is what they want, it looks as though change is finally what they’re going to get.
Based on the article by Bruce Garrioch in the Ottawa Sun today, Sens owner Eugene Melnyk has finally seen the light with this hockey club, has put the car to a complete stop, unbuckled himself and has cancelled the roller-coaster ride to the playoffs by making it clear to GM Bryan Murray that he wants salary shed with high-priced under-achievers shown the door.
Now, I can instantly see what some people are going to point to here. Some will be quick to point out that Melnyk is purely in it for the money and will do what it takes not to build a winner, but build himself a bigger bankroll. The argument will be made that making money is all that matters and that having a winning team is only a mere bonus for someone that looks at the franchise as a mere asset without worrying about the emotions that so many people in this city have for said asset.
I’m not going to use my time to argue those people because it would naïve of me to think that this isn’t a distinct possibility. Let’s not forget that a lot of owners made their money being shrewd businessmen and enter everything they do with the idea of making money at the forefront. Melnyk is well within his right to try and make as much money as he can with the business that he owns.
However, I don’t see him asking the GM to shed salary as purely a selfish move on his part to get closer to the break-even point and help himself out in the short-term. Sure, it will help soften the blow for this season, but by getting rid of higher-priced players on this hockey club, he’ll also be doing a great service to the fans of this team that want to see the rebuild started immediately.
It would be one thing if the Sens were near the bottom of the list when it came to roster spending, but they’re not. To his credit, Melnyk has been willing to spend to close to the cap on a team that plays in one of the smallest markets in the NHL. So, the drop-off in salary shouldn’t automatically suggest that selfishness is the only rationale here.
Let’s face it, there’s a lot of frustrated people in this town about where this team is going and Melnyk hasn’t done anything to try and get people on his side during these down times. He would be better off making an appearance or two and making a statement or two on the direction, look and feel of this franchise, but all I’m saying is: Let’s not get on Eugene Melnyk now that he wants to start the process that everyone wants in the first place.