New Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer is certainly interested in seeing Patrick Roy lead his team, according to information obtained by The newspaper.
· Read also: Patrick Roy and Jacques Tanguay say goodbye to the Remparts
· Read also: The Senators have found their new owner, and he is linked to the Canadiens
Andlauer and the Senators have reached a tentative agreement regarding the sale of the team, the daily reported. Ottawa Sun Tuesday. The Toronto billionaire and his partners will pay nearly US$1 billion to acquire 90% of the club, a record sum in the National Hockey League.
The remaining 10% will remain in the hands of Anna and Olivia Melnyk, daughters of former owner Eugene Melnyk, who passed away in March 2022.
The NHL will now have to approve the transfer of ownership of the team to the 57-year-old, who is also involved in health and finance, in addition to owning the Hamilton Bulldogs, the OHL.
The process could stretch into September, wrote the Sun.
“Is he going to call me? No idea”
Andlauer’s name was mentioned Tuesday during the press conference regarding Roy’s departure from the Quebec Remparts organization.
YouTube screenshot
Michael Andlauer
TSN insider Darren Dreger also mentioned during the Memorial Cup tournament that one of the groups interested in buying the Senators would like former number 33 becomes the team’s head coach.
Patrick Roy has confirmed that he met Michael Andlauer when he was one of ten people interviewed by the Canadiens during the process of hiring a new general manager last year, after the dismissal of Marc Bergevin.
It is that the businessman, born in France, but who grew up in Montreal, is one of the minority shareholders of the CH.
“He’s a nice guy,” said Patrick Roy. Will he call me [pour un poste]? No idea.”
- Listen to Jean-François Baril’s sports segment broadcast live daily at 5:15 p.m. via QUB-radio :
In 2024-2025?
According to the TSN network, however, it would be surprising if the new owner carried out a staff reshuffle before having taken full control of the organization. It is also possible that he wants to take advantage of the next season to evaluate the people in place, including current coach DJ Smith, before making his decisions.
There is one year left in Smith’s contract, which also has an option for the 2024-2025 campaign.
Andlauer must also sell his current shares in the Canadian, which he has held since 2009 and which are estimated at 10%. These could also pass into the hands of the Desmarais family if the owner Geoff Molson is inclined to sell them, according to what said a source at the Log. This information had also been mentioned by the media in recent months.
André Desmarais was previously co-owner of the Remparts with Patrick Roy, Jacques Tanguay and Michel Cadrin, before the club was sold to Quebecor in 2014.
No contact with the NHL
Roy said Tuesday he has had no contact with NHL teams looking for a head coach in recent weeks. The last vacancy has now been filled as the New York Rangers have announced that Peter Laviolette will be their new pilot.
The former head coach and general manager of the Remparts also said that some teams could be “chilled” by the fact that he served as coach and vice-president of hockey operations during his time with the Avalanche. of Colorado, between 2013 and 2016.
“There are so many good coaches, the choice is very big for the team looking for one,” he added. I want to save myself from embarrassment. It’s a way for me to show some humility.”
– With the collaboration of Stéphane Cadorette and Kevin Dubé