Melnyk says he won't sell Senators, 'but you can move' franchises
As the Ottawa Senators prepare for what's expected to be a downright frigid outdoor game, there's no shortage of hot topics surrounding the club.
In recent days, owner Eugene Melnyk has downplayed rumors that he's looking to sell the team, while the long-term status of all-world defenseman Erik Karlsson has also been brought into question.
But here's a new one: While reiterating he won't sell, Melnyk mentioned the remote possibility of relocation in advance of an alumni game on Parliament Hill as part of the NHL100 Classic festivities.
"It just won’t happen," Melnyk said with respect to selling the team, per Luke Fox of Sportsnet. "It’s a franchise. Imagine if you own a McDonald’s franchise. But you can move it. Why would you sell it? It’s something that’s very difficult to buy. We’re doing OK here. Nothing great, but we’re doing OK."
Melnyk added he's disappointed the team isn't selling out after advancing deep into the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but still, relocation remains a worst-case scenario.
Would Melnyk really move the Ottawa Senators? “If it becomes a disaster, yes. If you start not seeing crowds showing up, yes. But, for now, we are on the cusp of doing OK.”
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) December 16, 2017
The Senators rank 25th in average attendance, drawing 15,281 a night. The team also enters Saturday against Montreal with a 10-13-7 record, good for 15th in the Eastern Conference.