Report: Sens’ owner Melnyk gives blunt assessment of team’s fortunes

With reports that the Ottawa Senators may in fact not sell out tonight’s home opener against the Washington Capitals at Canadian Tire Centre, team owner Eugene Melnyk seemed almost apathetic to the news when he appeared on Sportsnet’s 590 THE FAN in Toronto yesterday.  

“I don’t know. We’re trying, but if we can’t, we can’t. What are you going to do?” said Melnyk said live on air. “We could go out and stand on a corner and sell them for the best price. If we do that’s great. If we don’t, well… it’s a long season.”

The attendance issues in Ottawa have long been a narrative in hockey media. During last spring’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, there were a reported 2000 unsold, empty seats in the building when the team took on the New York Rangers in the second round. Then, just last month the organization  removed 1,500 seats from the arena in the hopes of manufacturing some demand for tickets.