Canadian minority owner Michael Andlauer to buy Senators

Michael Andlauer, a minority shareholder in the Canadiens, is to buy the Ottawa Senators.

That’s according to Ottawa journalist Bruce Garrioch, who has been on the Sens sale case for as long as it’s been going on… since the dawn of time.

Because yes, it’s been a long time coming. In fact, it feels like everyone was more than willing to take their time to make sure they had the right group (at the right price) at the helm of the club.

In fact, the club took its time too much… but that’s another matter.

All this to say that this is really refreshing news, as the file had become interminable. And in reality, it’s not as if the outcome was a foregone conclusion.

Why not? Because just this morning, everyone thought they were ahead of the game.

This means that the stars who had their noses in the pie (Ryan Reynolds, Snoop Dogg and The Weeknd) won’t have the club. That won’t be so good for the Sens’ popularity.

But if Andlauer becomes a good owner (along with Eugene Melnyk’s daughters, who keep 10% of the club), that’s what will be important, in the end.

All of which begs the question of what this will mean for the organization’s field hockey men. Will Pierre Dorion keep his job as GM?

I have a feeling he’s likely to stay on.

That said, that doesn’t mean DJ Smith will stay. In fact, the Sens coach already seemed to be in a precarious position at the end of the season, which leads me to believe that he could leave.

And now, Patrick Roy’s name has to come to the fore.

After all, Michael Andlauer is the owner who would be tempted to hire Roy. He knew Roy as a minority shareholder of the Habs when Roy interviewed for the GM job, which ultimately went to Kent Hughes.

And since Roy also knows Pierre Dorion, I like his chances. We won’t know anything at 10 a.m. this morning (press conference), but as this is possibly his last chance to return to the NHL, he must be happy.

Extension

At the moment, Michael Andlauer is still a minority shareholder in the Montreal Canadiens. Expect that to change fairly soon.

Will Geoff Molson buy him out? Will another minority shareholder join the club? Stay tuned.