One day after the Ottawa Senators finalized a $135 million refinance loan, a report surfaced Thursday that embattled team owner Eugene Melnyk recently fielded an offer to buy the team.
The Fourth Period reports that Melnyk considered the offer before dismissing it. TFP also opined that Guy Laliberte, the billionaire co-founder of Cirque du Soleil, is either the interested party or part of a group that made the offer. Laliberte showed interest in buying the Senators in the past.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly sought to toss cold water on the report Thursday when contacted both by The Fourth Period and TSN.
“It is not accurate to suggest that Eugene Melnyk is in active discussions to sell the club," Daly told TSN. "He is the owner of the club and I believe he wants to remain the owner going forward.''
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The Sens owner also denied sale rumors.
I know there have been a lot of rumours swirling about a possible change in ownership with the Senators.
— Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) June 15, 2018
I've traded texts with Eugene Melnyk, who vehemently denies these rumours. Says he has not received any worthwhile offers for the team and he is not interested in selling.
Melnyk has a contentious relationship with Sens fans, and now the organization finds itself mired in deep turmoil, as well. Trade rumors swirl around the team's best player, Erik Karlsson, while the high-scoring Mike Hoffman had to be traded away for pennies on the dollar this month after his fiancee was accused of cyber-bullying Karlsson's wife Melinda. Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee is under suspension from the club after being arrested in Buffalo on harassment charges. Oh, and the Sens finished with the second-worst record in the NHL this past season.
In a statement about the refinancing on Wednesday, the team stated that "The use of proceeds is to pursue growth, serve general corporate purposes and to replace existing debt".
The team's chief operating officer offered further clarification about the refinancing Thursday, stating that the Senators are not for sale.
Nicolas Ruszkowski, the Senators COO, offered this comment: “On behalf of the Ottawa Senators and our owner Eugene Melnyk, let me keep it very simple: the team is not for sale, nor are we negotiating any offer. We made public our 135 million dollar financing yesterday (1) #Sens
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) June 28, 2018
(2) to signal our intent to invest in the team, the fan experience, and in our community. At no time has the Club or any of its executives interacted with Mr. Laliberte on our business, and certainly he had no involvement in our recent financing. #Sens
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) June 28, 2018
(3) Our owner has never worked with him, in any capacity.” #Sens
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) June 28, 2018
Forbes magazine ranked the Senators' franchise value 20th of NHL 31 teams in 2017, at $420 million. The Fourth Period reported that "the asking price for the Senators and the Canadian Tire Centre is hovering around $650 million to $700 million."