Senators Owner Eugene Melnyk said that it is "too early to discuss details of a possible move to a new arena in the LeBreton Flats" closer to downtown, according to Wayne Scanlan of the OTTAWA CITIZEN. Melnyk yesterday said Canadian Tire Centre, located in the Ottawa suburb of Kanata, “wasn’t built to last 35, 40 years." He said despite the money the Senators have spent recently to upgrade the arena, “you have to build a new one eventually, I hope in my lifetime." Melnyk said he hopes the club comes to the "right decision" on a proposal very soon. Melnyk: "The project itself is very premature to even talk about it. We haven’t even decided if we should do it.” Melnyk: “This impacts the city in a huge way, it impacts the organization in a huge way, we just need to clearly understand what we’re getting ourselves into because it is a long-term project and it’s really a game-changer for us." Scanlan notes Melnyk "happily defended his club’s 30th rank in team payroll," which is about C$56M. Melnyk: “Everybody keeps talking about money, money, money. ... Take a look at all these big signings that have happened in the last couple of years. We’re looking like the smart ones. ... I’m not the least bit embarrassed at us spending at the bottom. ... We’ll be able to spend more in the future. Some can’t. Some are stuck" (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 12/16). In Ottawa, Don Brennan reports if the Senators are going to make a push for relocating, "they'll do so within the next 10 days" (OTTAWA SUN, 12/16). CITIZEN columnist ;James Gordon writes under the header, " Ottawa Doesn't Need, Nor Can It Afford, A New NHL Arena." Gordon: "The craziest part of all ... is that there seems to be a great deal of momentum in this city behind the idea of replacing an NHL-calibre arena that was built in 1996. ... I can say without reservation that the CTC stacks up well" against other NHL rinks (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 12/16).
HANDS IN THE PIE? The OTTAWA SUN's Brennan writes Melnyk "took exception" when it was suggested "he was 'involved' in the firing of coach Paul MacLean and promotion of his successor, Dave Cameron." Melnyk said, "Involved is a very broad term. [Senators GM] Bryan Murray, let's get this straight once and for all, he makes the decisions. I stay out of the hockey operations" (OTTAWA SUN, 12/16).
