The New Era is Here: NHL Board of Governors Approves Andlauer's Purchase of the Senators
It took Michael Andlauer, the new owner of the Ottawa Senators, 22 words to eloquently set the bar for what fans can expect.
What a welcomed breath of fresh air.
Tonight Andlauer was officially approved by the NHL’s Board of Governors in what was the necessary final step to complete the sale process.
Andlauer made this statement via the team’s official press release:
“The Ottawa Senators Hockey Club is an amazing organization, from the players, to the staff, to the most passionate fanbase in the game. My family and I are thrilled to officially be a part of Ottawa’s team and the Ottawa-Gatineau community.
Thank you to the NHL and the Melnyk family for the opportunity to make this a reality and entrusting me to steward this remarkable franchise into the future. Thank you also to my equity partners and advisors on the transaction, who like me are aligned and committed to bringing on and off-ice success to the National Capital Region.
I cannot wait to get to Ottawa and get things officially started. It is an incredibly exciting time for the franchise, fans and the community.
Go Sens Go!”
After 20 years of stewardship under Eugene Melnyk and his cronies, it feels surreal to finally close that chapter of the franchise’s history. After years of alienating the fans, season ticket holders, sponsors, local businesses and politicians, the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and build around the team’s exciting young core is such an incredible feeling.
The expectation is that Cyril Leeder will be brought back into the fold. Rumours continue to circulate around the hockey operations department. Names like Peter Chiarelli, Mathieu Darche, Steve Staios, and Daniel Alfredsson are being thrown around, but it remains to be seen whether Andlauer will bring in his own people or allow Pierre Dorion and his staff to continue in their roles.
Bruce Garrioch reported that Leeder “resigned his post as chief executive officer of the Myers Automotive Group last Friday.”
Given Dorion’s recent availabilities and appearances, it would feel a bit cruel to put him through that only to let him go shortly thereafter. But, it is worth noting that Andlauer may have already made a significant unilateral addition to the front office in the form of Sean Tierney, the team’s first director of hockey analytics.
Regardless of how anyone feels about giving Dorion an extended opportunity, it is encouraging that it feels like Andlauer already has his finger on the pulse of this fan base. After years of false bravado from an owner who would overpromise and underdeliver, there is a calmness to how Andlauer conducts himself and already it feels like you don’t need to worry about putting a microphone in his hands.
If he is an owner who will invest in this franchise and pride himself on delivering an efficient and professional product and message, that is all fans can ask for. And, after 20 years, it’s what we deserve.
Senators Sign Undrafted Prospect
The Senators also announced today that they have agreed to a three-year entry-level contract with undrafted defenceman Djibril Toure.
The 20-year-old Toure is an incredibly tall player. He stands 6’7” and his Eliteprospects page lists him at 203 lbs. He has local roots in the sense that the Montreal native played in the CCHL during the 2021-22 season with the Carleton Place Canadians and Hawkesbury Hawks. He played the 2022-23 season with the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves where he recorded five goals and 16 points in 56 games with 91 PIMs.
Using HockeyProspecting’s data, the historical comparisons are not too flattering. The good news is that the probability of Toure playing NHL games has gone up from his draft year + 1 season, but at 10 percent, it is not too encouraging. As outlined by the visual below, an NHLer is considered to be a player who has the potential to play 200+ NHL games.
The full comparisons are not too flattering either, but for a smooth skater with Toure’s physical characteristics, it is hard to blame the Senators for rolling the dice and taking a flyer on the possibility that he could be a late bloomer. After the Senators have moved so many draft picks, the thinning of their system certainly creates an opportunity for Toure to step into the organization and earn a more prominent role in the system.