The Ottawa Senators announced Friday that the process to sell the team has begun.
“Galatioto Sports Partners has been engaged to provide financial advice and the process to sell Ottawa Senators Hockey Club has begun,” said Senators Chairman and Governor Sheldon Plener. “It was a necessary and wise step to get in touch with the seriously interested parties who can show us what their vision is for the future.”
Plener said a condition of the sale was that the Senators would remain in Ottawa.
Eugene Melnyk had owned the Senators since 2003, but passed away on March 28 due to illness. His daughters, Anna (23) and Olivia (20), were part of the group overseeing the organization.
Melnyk acquired the Senators in 2003 when they filed for bankruptcy, ten years after becoming part of the NHL as an expansion team.
“Without Eugene Melnyk, the Senators wouldn’t be in Ottawa,” Senators General Manager Pierre Dorion said after Melnyk’s death.
During Melnyk’s tenure, the Senators made the Stanley Cup playoffs nine times and made the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals, losing to the Anaheim Ducks. However, they haven’t made the playoffs since reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017.
The Senators (4-6-0) lost four games in a row. Their next game is at home against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.