Ottawa Senators for sale; could a relocation be the end result? If so, where?

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Sam Hutch
November 2, 2022 (3:12 PM)

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After the passing of Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk passed away early this year, his daughters took over operations seemingly until the team could be sold, but if no buyers from the Ottawa area present themselves, is relocation possible?

According to Eric Macramalla of TSN, a relocation is possible, it's not something the National Hockey League wants to to however.

With the unsurprising news the Senators are likely for sale, expect the team to stay in Ottawa. There is local interest in the Senators and Bettman doesn't like to see teams move if there are local buyers. So long as they pony up, the team stays. If not Houston likely beckons.

The sale of the team, the new arena and all pending debts is expected to cost a new buyer nearly a billion dollars, so whoever buys the team better have deep pockets.

This seems like a last resort kind of thing. If no local area person is interested in buying the team, then they move. The relocation part has me scratching my head though? Houston of all places? That seems like a pretty arbitrary market for a team.

In all seriousness, I doubt a relocation happens, but it's interesting that the idea is being floated so early on in to potentially looking for a new owner. Ottawa better show up for Sens games for the rest of the year, if they don't, who knows?