(Tampa) Gary Bettman says the Ottawa Senators aren’t for sale despite the recent death of owner Eugene Melnyk.
Posted at 9:05 a.m.
Speaking during the first intermission of Game 3 of the series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs at Amalie Arena, the NHL commissioner said Melnyk’s daughters — who are 19 and 23 years old — will make the decision on the next steps.
“The team is professionally managed,” Bettman said. The team is not on the market, there is no rush. The club is not in an unstable situation.
” There is no problem. »
Melnyk died on March 28 at the age of 62 following an illness. He had previously stated that he wanted to leave the team to his daughters, Anna and Olivia.
PHOTO ADRIAN WYLD, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Eugene Melnyk
He bought the Senators in 2003 for $92 million. The team was then facing bankruptcy and its future in the Canadian capital was uncertain.
The team is now worth 525 million, according to Forbes.
Soon a World Cup?
Bettman said preparations for a 2024 World Cup are still underway, including negotiations with the NHL Players’ Association and the International Ice Hockey Federation.
“We’re still working on the structure,” Bettman said. There are a lot of discussions regarding the organization of the event, then we can work out the details, including who will be able to participate. But we are not there yet. »
Bettman added that no decision has been made regarding Russian participation, despite the recent invasion of Ukraine.
Record revenues
Bettman said the league will set a revenue record, even though several games in Canada were played behind closed doors or in front of limited spectators earlier this season.
The commissioner indicated that the NHL would find itself between 150 and 200 million of its projection of 5.3 to 5.4 billion.
“We came out of COVID very strong,” Bettman said.