Ottawa Senators: 5 burning questions for 2018-19 season

OTTAWA, ON - APRIL 02: Ottawa Senators Defenceman Erik Karlsson (65) prior to a face-off during third period National Hockey League action between the Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators on April 2, 2018, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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DALLAS, TX – JUNE 22: Eugene Melynk and Pierre Dorion of the Ottawa Senators attend the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

2. How can Sens ownership repair a fractured relationship with their fans?

Ask any Sens fan who’s to blame for the team’s current situation, and the feeling is unanimous. Eugene Melnyk is the root of their problems.

He was the reason Kyle Turris got dealt, then had Pierre Dorion lie about it. He alienated the team and the fans when he threatened relocation if they couldn’t sell more tickets. And Karlsson hinted at a discord between him and the front office when he said he would get paid market value when asked if he’d take a hometown discount. You might think the Sens are Arsenal given how many Melnyk Out signs have started popping up.

Poor ownership and gross mismanagement are what sunk the Senators last season, and it’s going to take a lot longer than one year for things to improve. Will Melnyk leaving change anything? It’ll make Sens fans feel a lot better, but it’s not guaranteed to change the on-ice product. But considering he took over as team president once Tom Anselmi left, he’s probably not going anywhere.

Simply put, Melnyk needs to own up and tell the fans that what he did was wrong. Then, he needs to meet with the Senators players and repair any sort of discord that might have existed between the two. Finding a replacement for Pierre Dorion might be easier said than done, but it’s necessary considering the moves he’s made, or could be about to make, as GM.

The seeds of a rebuild started being planted during last year’s trade deadline. This coming season, expect a full-blown fire sale as they start looking towards the future. But even if the Sens show some signs of promise, fans might continue to boycott the team until Melnyk is out.

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