With the NHL season nearing its opening, Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk laid out plans for the team's future. That future includes significant player turnover and organizational change including a full-blown rebuild.

During a team-released video interview with Senators defenceman Mark Borowiecki, Melnyk described the situation in Ottawa as not nearly doom and gloom as many insiders are calling things. He added that while the team is not going to change ownership or move out of Ottawa, the franchise is about to undergo a major change in player personnel and roster adjustments that could see as many as 16 of the 22 roster members moved out over the next two seasons.

Melnyk described the team as moving toward something that is “fresh and brand new” and exciting. He figures the change is part of rebuilding the team but the underlying chatter from the video is that Melnyk is setting the stage for the removal of some of the team's biggest stars.

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Teams have undergone rebuilds in the NHL before. But to the degree Melynk is describing this planned change is unique. With only three roster members locked in as part of the team after the 2019-20 season, change is inevitable. If fans read into the video, included will be the likely departures of Erik Karlsson, Matt Duchene, and Mark Stone.

Melnyk tried to sell such change as the team working its way out of "the dumpster" and introducing young, motivated prospects who will be the future of the franchise. He suggests their excitement will excite the veterans which will excite Melnyk himself and then the fanbase. The owner said, “This coming year, we’re going to have 10 out of the 22 players are going to be new, meaning they are either rookies or maybe they played under 10 games last year." He added, “the following year, it’s going to go up to 15 of the 22, maybe 16.”

Despite fans understanding this potentially means saying goodbye to their stars, Melnyk tried to stay positive saying, the idea is to give the fans “hope” the club knows what it’s doing and eventually the team will be “shooting for the Stanley Cup.”

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