The Ottawa Senators’ sale process has been pared “down to just a couple” groups heading into the weekend, a source with knowledge of the review process told Front Office Sports on Friday.
But another source later Friday countered that the process remains wide open.
FOS previously reported that a decision is expected to come down next week.
It wasn’t unclear which of the four groups remained in the mix. The Senators are expected to fetch about $1 billion.
Four groups submitted bids ahead of Monday’s final deadline, including:
- Billionaire Montreal Canadiens minority owner and healthcare group founder Michael Andlaue
- Toronto businessman Steve Apostolopoulos, who was also part of the Washington Commanders’ bidding before Josh Harris secured a final agreement
- Former Pittsburgh Penguins minority owners and entrepreneurs Jeffrey and Michael Kimel
- Los Angeles-based businessman Neko Sparks, whose group that already counted rapper Snoop Dogg and apparently added Canadian Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter Donovan Bailey
The Senators went on the market in November, months after the death of Eugene Melnyk. Melnyk purchased the Sens for $92 million in 2003.
Galatioto Sports Partners is handling the sale on behalf of the Melnyk family. A message left with GSP by FOS on Friday was not immediately returned.
Galatioto Sports Partners is handling the sale on behalf of the Melnyk family. Patriarch Eugene Melnyk, who purchased the Sens for $92 million in 2003, died in March 2022.