The Otawa Senators have reached a deal in principle with Toronto businessman Michael Andlauer over the sale of the club.
The Senators are set to become the most expensive team in NHL history with Andlauer's group agreeing to purchase the franchise for nearly $1 billion. Ryan Reynolds has expressed interest in buying the team for some time, but after initially withdrawing his proposal it's now confirmed he won't be taking over the team.
Andlauer's deal was confirmed by the Senators on Tuesday, with the investment group jumping to the front of the queue to acquire the franchise owned by the late Eugene Melnyk. Andlauer's offer will now be elevated and they'll work with the NHL to complete the deal.
"My family and I are very excited to be a part of the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club," Andlauer said in a statement. "I believe that the Senators’ fanbase is one of the most passionate in the league and I’m excited to take the franchise’s success both on and off the ice to the next level.
"The short and long-term future of the team is incredibly bright, and I look forward to getting to know the team, the fanbase and the community." While the sale is good for the Senators, especially with plans to build a new arena in the downtown area of Ottawa, it'll be a blow for Reynolds who was really keen on owning a new team.
Reynolds took over Wrexham alongside fellow actor Rob McElhenney towards the end of 2020, and have since overseen promotion to the Football League with the Welsh club. Reynolds adores Wrexham and so does his family. But the Canadian made it clear on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon that he was interested in something closer to home.
"I am trying to do it," Reynolds said when asked about the idea of buying the Senators. "But it’s very expensive. I need a partner with very deep pockets. It’s called a consortium when you form a group together to buy an entity," Reynolds added. "It’s a fancy way of saying I need a sugar mummy or a sugar daddy.
"I grew up in Vancouver which has my heart. But I also grew up in Ottawa. I spent a long time in Vanier, which is a little town right inside Ottawa."
Reynolds got his investment group too, as he teamed up with The Remington - a Toronto-based real estate group. Reynolds and the investment group also reportedly planned to build a new arena at LeBreton Flats, a neighbourhood in downtown Ottawa.
The actor was planning to be the new face of the Senators’ franchise, taking on a similar role to the one at Wrexham. A similar series to 'Welcome to Wrexham' was also discussed, with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on board with the idea to help boost the popularity of the league.
But the Senators will go ahead with Andlauer's deal and were delighted to reach an agreement on Tuesday. "We are very pleased to announce that we have entered into an agreement to sell controlling interest of the Senators to Michael Andlauer," Senators governor Sheldon Plener said.
"Michael represents everything we could have hoped to find coming into this process — a passionate owner who is committed to Ottawa, I want to thank Anna and Olivia Melnyk for their dedication and support to the board of directors and executors of the estate during this process. We would also like to recognize the ongoing efforts of the NHL. We believe it is a momentous day for the National Capital Region."
