Melnyk's Financial Woes: Melnyk's Budget Edition

SeawaySensFan wrote:
Perfectly reasonable.

You could say, too, that the handwriting is already on the wall if Melnyk couldn't or didn't want to give Alfie a little extra "thank you" money AND get some extra help AND still be one of the lower cap teams in the league.

I think it's debatable whether the Sens are a better team with MacArthur on the second line instead of Alfie. He'll never be the player that Alfie was but, hey, neither will Alfie. It would have been fantastic for him to retire as a Senator, settle down and continue to raise his family in Ottawa, becoming some kind of advisor or moving to Director of Player Personnel or whatever position, maybe eventually trying out his chops as a GM, some time down the road. But, hey, and extra $1-2M is what it takes to uproot your family and move to one of the worst cities in NA. Maybe he had a beef with Melnyk, who knows. I know that I have a kid with a framed Alfie 1000 game limited edition print, signed by the man himself, and I know that it's worth less (to my kid) now than if did a month ago.

Anyhow, let me get off my horse for a second. I don't think it's debatable that this is a better team with Ryan (instead of, say, Zibanejad) on the top line than Alfredsson on the second line. And that's what Melnyk is spinning.

Alfie and a lot of other players had a beef with every owner in the NHL, coming off a lockout it's a great way to stick it to the owner and make him look bad but fact is Alfie looks a lot worse than anyone based on the decision he made. He owed the city nothing and the organization nothing but it goes both ways, the fans and organization didn't owe him anything either.

People blame Menlyk for a person choice Alfie decided to make? Sounds like people just refuse to lay any blame on the great #11.

NEELY wrote:This year?  Next year?  5 years?  Pretty broad comment.  Absolutely no one knows what will happen 2 years down the line with the Sens or Melnyk's finances, no fans, Melnyk, or Murray.  So people spouting off at the mouth about things they really know nothing about is just being ignorant but hey, that's what people do.  I choose to form a hockey opinion based on the game actually being played and until something happens that I actually see as a warning shot or something that's concerning I'll keep doing that.

I'll allow Mr Yost, yourself, and others to continue to believe they are C.A's and have access to Melnyk's books and finaces as well as his divorce hearings and happenings because hey, they know more than he does at this point.  Could you just help me out and let me know which way the world economy is going to turn as well because I would like a little extra myself.

I have to give Yost kudos for the digging he did. He's certainly tenacious. He, also, just as certainly, is not a forensic accountant or even a businessman of any stature. There are things happening above our pay grade that we will never understand. Melnyk didn't become a billionaire because he was good at chemistry -- he was good at business. And one thing that businessmen do better than anyone is play with other people's money. But when it comes to the Sens, he was a fan first and businessman second. He's looking for partners now to share the cost (and reap the rewards). I'm surprised it's taking this long to find partners, but I suspect it's because Melnyk-the-fan wants to hold on to more than his partners-to-be are willing to sign up to. If push comes to shove, Melnyk the businessman will bring in the necessary partners even if it means giving up more control of the team than he wants. Or maybe he'll sell the team outright and set up shop with Balsillie in the GTA. Anything could happen.

NEELY wrote:This year?  Next year?  5 years?  Pretty broad comment.  Absolutely no one knows what will happen 2 years down the line with the Sens or Melnyk's finances, no fans, Melnyk, or Murray.  So people spouting off at the mouth about things they really know nothing about is just being ignorant but hey, that's what people do.  I choose to form a hockey opinion based on the game actually being played and until something happens that I actually see as a warning shot or something that's concerning I'll keep doing that.

I'll allow Mr Yost, yourself, and others to continue to believe they are C.A's and have access to Melnyk's books and finaces as well as his divorce hearings and happenings because hey, they know more than he does at this point.  Could you just help me out and let me know which way the world economy is going to turn as well because I would like a little extra myself.

I'm forecasting based on what the owner said himself. To me, that's a "warning shot." I could be wrong but that's what it looks like to me. Maybe not to you and thats' fine.

Yost is an idiot and I haven't commented on anything he said that I recall or ever agreed with him.

You never say anything until it actually happens? Seriously?   

NEELY wrote:Alfie and a lot of other players had a beef with every owner in the NHL, coming off a lockout it's a great way to stick it to the owner and make him look bad but fact is Alfie looks a lot worse than anyone based on the decision he made.  He owed the city nothing and the organization nothing but it goes both ways, the fans and organization didn't owe him anything either.  

People blame Menlyk for a person choice Alfie decided to make?  Sounds like people just refuse to lay any blame on the great #11.

Oh, I think there are far more people who have turned on Alfie than those who still defend him.

wprager wrote:

NEELY wrote:This year?  Next year?  5 years?  Pretty broad comment.  Absolutely no one knows what will happen 2 years down the line with the Sens or Melnyk's finances, no fans, Melnyk, or Murray.  So people spouting off at the mouth about things they really know nothing about is just being ignorant but hey, that's what people do.  I choose to form a hockey opinion based on the game actually being played and until something happens that I actually see as a warning shot or something that's concerning I'll keep doing that.

I'll allow Mr Yost, yourself, and others to continue to believe they are C.A's and have access to Melnyk's books and finaces as well as his divorce hearings and happenings because hey, they know more than he does at this point.  Could you just help me out and let me know which way the world economy is going to turn as well because I would like a little extra myself.

I have to give Yost kudos for the digging he did.  He's certainly tenacious.  He, also, just as certainly, is not a forensic accountant or even a businessman of any stature.  There are things happening above our pay grade that we will never understand.  Melnyk didn't become a billionaire because he was good at chemistry -- he was good at business.  And one thing that businessmen do better than anyone is play with other people's money.  But when it comes to the Sens, he was a fan first and businessman second.  He's looking for partners now to share the cost (and reap the rewards).  I'm surprised it's taking this long to find partners, but I suspect it's because Melnyk-the-fan wants to hold on to more than his partners-to-be are willing to sign up to.  If push comes to shove, Melnyk the businessman will bring in the necessary partners even if it means giving up more control of the team than he wants.  Or maybe he'll sell the team outright and set up shop with Balsillie in the GTA.  Anything could happen.

Hopefully next up are some great 9/11 conspiracies as well. Those are always fun, too.

SeawaySensFan wrote:I'm forecasting based on what the owner said himself. To me, that's a "warning shot." I could be wrong but that's what it looks like to me. Maybe not to you and thats' fine.

Yost is an idiot and I haven't commented on anything he said that I recall or ever agreed with him.

You never say anything until it actually happens? Seriously?   

Please, businessmen are like politicians with better tailors and barbers (well, maybe not in Melnyk's case, but he lives in Barbados and they are a little more relaxed down there). Point is you have to interpret what is said in the context of where/when/to whom it was said.

It'll take about 5 minutes to find contradictory statements from Melnyk. Why do you believe the latest thing he said when, clearly, he is quite adept at not telling the truth?

NEELY wrote:
Hopefully next up are some great 9/11 conspiracies as well.  Those are always fun, too.

That would have to be a different thread.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

NEELY wrote:This year?  Next year?  5 years?  Pretty broad comment.  Absolutely no one knows what will happen 2 years down the line with the Sens or Melnyk's finances, no fans, Melnyk, or Murray.  So people spouting off at the mouth about things they really know nothing about is just being ignorant but hey, that's what people do.  I choose to form a hockey opinion based on the game actually being played and until something happens that I actually see as a warning shot or something that's concerning I'll keep doing that.

I'll allow Mr Yost, yourself, and others to continue to believe they are C.A's and have access to Melnyk's books and finaces as well as his divorce hearings and happenings because hey, they know more than he does at this point.  Could you just help me out and let me know which way the world economy is going to turn as well because I would like a little extra myself.

I'm forecasting based on what the owner said himself. To me, that's a "warning shot." I could be wrong but that's what it looks like to me. Maybe not to you and thats' fine.

Yost is an idiot and I haven't commented on anything he said that I recall or ever agreed with him.

You never say anything until it actually happens? Seriously?   

Hockey wise, sure. I'll throw something out there. Personal lives and finances that I know little to nothing about other than the price of stock, state of the economy, or the NHL stepping in and helping Melnyk like they did with Bryden or the Yotes, yah, I'll leave it for the "experts".

Sens better than last year? Yup. I'm good. Don't care if they spent more or less to do it.

Alfie was overpaid by Detroit, but salaries are going up. Sure it wasn't worth to pay him that much but we couldn't afford to do so anyway.

It's not that the team didn't want to pay him that much, they couldn't(whether they wanted to or not). And we're talking about $1.5M-$2M dollar difference here with plenty of cap space. It shouldn't be a deal breaker but it was.

Alfie wouldn't give the team a discount(again). What are the chances Spezza and Ryan do? Because I don't think this team can afford to give what they can get on the open market.

Alfie was a big NHLPA supporter during the lockout, it wouldn't surprise me if he laughed his Donkey off at Melnyk crying poor and went elsewhere.

wprager wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:I'm forecasting based on what the owner said himself. To me, that's a "warning shot." I could be wrong but that's what it looks like to me. Maybe not to you and thats' fine.

Yost is an idiot and I haven't commented on anything he said that I recall or ever agreed with him.

You never say anything until it actually happens? Seriously?   

Please, businessmen are like politicians with better tailors and barbers (well, maybe not  in Melnyk's case, but he lives in Barbados and they are a little more relaxed down there).  Point is you have to interpret what is said in the context of where/when/to whom it was said.

It'll take about 5 minutes to find contradictory statements from Melnyk.  Why do you believe the latest thing he said when, clearly, he is quite adept at not telling the truth?

Exactly, people take comments made whether they are true or not to support their arguments. I wouldn't believe Melnyk if he said they will spend to the cap next year nor do I believe him if he says the Sens are spending to the floor. Melnyk is a POS that will lie and screw over whoever he wants to make a dollar, save his Donkey, or to look like a hero, always has been. Can't stand him. That said, I don't care about anything else other than the Sens here and I love the direction they are headed, how the money was actually spent, and the on ice product itself.

Hoags wrote:Alfie was overpaid by Detroit, but salaries are going up.  Sure it wasn't worth to pay him that much but we couldn't afford to do so anyway.

It's not that the team didn't want to pay him that much, they couldn't(whether they wanted to or not).  And we're talking about $1.5M-$2M dollar difference here with plenty of cap space.  It shouldn't be a deal breaker but it was.

Alfie wouldn't give the team a discount(again).  What are the chances Spezza and Ryan do? Because I don't think this team can afford to give what they can get on the open market.

Alfie was a big NHLPA supporter during the lockout, it wouldn't surprise me if he laughed his Donkey off at Melnyk crying poor and went elsewhere.

Alfie wanted 12 mil over 2 seasons... that's a lot of coin for a player who would be 42 at the end of it. If Alfie wanted to make a point, he made it but I am still unsure what it is. Didn't know you could put a price tag on a legacy haha, but I guess he did.

Steve Warne's blog in response to the Melnyk interview:
http://tgornation.blogspot.ca/2013/08/melnyk-chimes-in-on-alfie.html

This part is a bit brutal:

From a strictly hockey perspective, it was okay to turn the page on Alfredsson. Not only will he be retiring soon, he was the leader of a team he'd completely lost faith in. He said he didn't believe they could come back in the playoffs vs. Pittsburgh. He basically left the team because it wasn't good enough for him.

I'm not sewing my captain's “C” over top of a heart that it isn't in it anymore.

Yup, pretty much. Alfie quit on the Sens.

NEELY wrote:

wprager wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:I'm forecasting based on what the owner said himself. To me, that's a "warning shot." I could be wrong but that's what it looks like to me. Maybe not to you and thats' fine.

Yost is an idiot and I haven't commented on anything he said that I recall or ever agreed with him.

You never say anything until it actually happens? Seriously?   

Please, businessmen are like politicians with better tailors and barbers (well, maybe not  in Melnyk's case, but he lives in Barbados and they are a little more relaxed down there).  Point is you have to interpret what is said in the context of where/when/to whom it was said.

It'll take about 5 minutes to find contradictory statements from Melnyk.  Why do you believe the latest thing he said when, clearly, he is quite adept at not telling the truth?

Exactly, people take comments made whether they are true or not to support their arguments.  I wouldn't believe Melnyk if he said they will spend to the cap next year nor do I believe him if he says the Sens are spending to the floor.  Melnyk is a POS that will lie and screw over whoever he wants to make a dollar, save his Donkey, or to look like a hero, always has been.  Can't stand him.  That said, I don't care about anything else other than the Sens here and I love the direction they are headed, how the money was actually spent, and the on ice product itself.  

Melnyk is all over the map for sure and he sometimes seems to embellish what Murray previously states.

Alfie did quit on the team which is why I don't miss him all that much.

Does anyone here remember the Alfie who would guarantee victories? Instead we had an Alfie who said we probably won't come back in a series ?

He lost his faith in the team and maybe after 17 years with the team and only 1 SCF appearance to show for it I don't blame him too much for thinking it's not going to happen for him here.

Bottom line is we're better off without him if his heart really wasn't in it. It shouldn't have happened this way but what can you do?

I don't think this will impact his legacy much. In a few years the anger will largely die down and #11 will be hanging from the rafters at the CTC.

Melnyk is a liar and a businessman through and through. 2 words are probably interchangeable to be honest. Either way, I am not defending Melnyk by any means nor do I support him in any way I just refuse to make something out of basically nothing when there is nothing to talk about. If I thought finances were crippling the Sens I would say it but they aren't at all.

Alfie got selfish and left after he lost faith in the Sens. Sens are better off and again, that's all I actually care about.

Hoags wrote:Alfie did quit on the team which is why I don't miss him all that much.

Does anyone here remember the Alfie who would guarantee victories? Instead we had an Alfie who said we probably won't come back in a series ?

He lost his faith in the team and maybe after 17 years with the team and only 1 SCF appearance to show for it I don't blame him too much for thinking it's not going to happen for him here.

Bottom line is we're better off without him if his heart really wasn't in it.  It shouldn't have happened this way but what can you do?

I don't think this will impact his legacy much.  In a few years the anger will largely die down and #11 will be hanging from the rafters at the CTC.

Looking back at things now with everything that he's done, he's probably a big reason for that. Took him until 2007 to show any kind of emotion on the ice.