SENShobo
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Not Really Much of a Shake-Up
by SENShobo on 06/15/09 at 04:58 PM ET
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Earlier today, as posted by Paul, the Ottawa Senators announced the formation of a new executive team “that will be responsible for the club’s operations and the diverse range of assets managed by Senators Sports & Entertainment.”
Conveniently timed, in the wake of news about Heatley’s request for a trade? Sure, especially since the team won’t take over until July 1st, providing little need for the announcement to come on any particular date. But what does it really mean? Honestly, not much.
Hearing “Senators Sports & Entertainment” and “Executive Leadership Team” might bring to mind thoughts of MLSE, Richard Peddie, and clouds forming as a bad omen for the years to come. The key to dismissing this worrisome news is to remember that Cyril Leeder is not Richard Peddie as a first sigh of relief. I can’t tell you Peddie’s life story, but the gasp that you succumb to as you mention his name doesn’t compare to the pause as you look skyward, trying to place Leeder’s. The next step is to remember that Peddie answers to a certain higher power, the Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan, whose interests (money, money, and more money, but that is what anyone would want of their retirement fund) often run completely contrary to the wishes of Leaf Nation (on-ice success). Leeder answers to Melnyk, and the only chip in his quest for extending each season well into spring is his aversion to spending money in certain less-critical areas; don’t think that Clouston coming in instead of a high-profile (and high-salary) coach is entirely unrelated to this, or the unwillingness of the organization to ever bury one-way NHL salaries in the AHL ,as the Bruins did with Schaefer this season.
This is clear when you note that each position is merely an addendum to the current responsibilities of Leeder, Murray, and Erin Crowe. Playing coach and GM is one thing, but these dual roles should not adversely affect the team. Instead, on one hand, Mlakar’s departure remains an expected end if you believe the mumblings that have circled around Ottawa, and these new roles will be accompanied with goals of further expanding SSE’s outreach into the community through high profile events such as the World Juniors, as well as laying the groundwork for another possible MLS expansion bid; Balsillie’s not the only tenacious one. If there’s any success on those fronts, then it’s pure win for Ottawa, with the ever-present but minuscule chance of complete franchise meltdown.
Filed in: | SENShobo | Permalink
Tags: Bryan+Murray, Cyril+Leeder, Erin+Crowe, Eugene+Melnyk, Roy+Mlakar,
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Sadly, our Toronto brethren are getting it right.
Brian Burke - hockey guy and winner
Francois Allaire - hockey guy and winner
Dave Nonis - smart businessman and hockey guy
Cleared the team of cap space, going with youth and high picks.
Sadly, we’re still hitched to the wagon of the core players for another 4 years or so while Melnyk is in the Bahamas, oblivious of what goes on.
Not optimisitc about next year at all, especially with a player already jumping ship.
Posted by Greg on 06/15/09 at 09:35 PM ET