LeBlanc played a key role in keeping the Coyotes in Arizona amid rumors of relocationGETTY IMAGES
Senators Owner Eugene Melnyk named Anthony LeBlanc the team's President of Business Operations, and LeBlanc "has the business experience the Senators need at this level," according to Bruce Garrioch of the OTTAWA SUN. LeBlanc, who served as Coyotes President & CEO from '09-17, "worked with the NHL to play a big role to keep the Coyotes in Glendale when many doubted the future of the franchise in the desert." He has "close ties" with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, but "mostly LeBlanc understands the day-to-day operations of a franchise." Immediately after LeBlanc's hire was confirmed yesterday afternoon, he and Melnyk "took part in Bettman and Daly's bi-weekly conference call with the league's 31 owners and executives from each team on what actions the league is taking during this pause." LeBlanc, a former Sens season-ticket holder, will "essentially" replace CEO Jim Little, who was fired on March 4 after less than two months on the job with Ottawa (OTTAWA SUN, 4/21).
LEBLANC STILL IN PLAY FOR CFL: Schooner Sports & Entertainment yesterday said that it "remains committed to bringing a CFL expansion franchise to Halifax." The CP cites a source as saying that LeBlanc will "remain with the group in a smaller role." CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie "wasn’t immediately available for comment." Last month, Ambrosie said that he "reached out to officials" with Schooner to "re-iterate his vision of having the Atlantic Schooners on board to make the league a truly national entity" (CP, 4/20).
