Exactly three weeks ago – on Feb. 12 – Jim Little granted his first set of interviews to the local media in Ottawa.
As the new CEO of the Ottawa Senators, Little wanted to make it clear the public would be seeing and hearing a lot from him in the months ahead.
“I will become the face of the franchise. It’s not a role that I’m seeking, but it’s a role that I’m told is required,” he told TSN 1200.
But shortly after 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday morning, a rather terse press release was issued by the club stating that Little had been dismissed from his duties as chief executive officer.
The statement indicated Little had engaged in conduct that was “inconsistent with the core values of the Ottawa Senators and the National Hockey League.”
Since this season has seen multiple head coaches fired for inappropriate conduct, the vague press release certainly leaves room for interpretation.
It should be noted that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was asked about the dismissal at the general managers meetings in Boca Raton, Fla., on Wednesday morning and simply said, “It’s not what you think.” Bettman characterized the dismissal as an “internal operations” decision.
So what now?
The Senators are once again dealing with a pot of instability that always feels like it’s on the verge of boiling over.
There were rumblings last week that Little and Melnyk weren’t seeing eye-to-eye on a couple of issues, but even the biggest skeptics didn’t believe a divorce was so imminent. After all, Little had only officially been on the job since Jan. 10 – a span of 54 days.
The hockey club has been a laughingstock around the league for its inability to retain senior management. Wednesday’s news has simply added another fresh punchline for cynics to pounce on.
Since firing the affable and popular Cyril Leeder on Jan. 25, 2017 – roughly three years ago – the Senators have watched a carousel of suits come through their doors to try and fix their broken relationship with corporate partners.
There was Tom Anselmi – one of the most well-respected names in the industry – who quietly vacated his position as president and CEO after about a year on the job in early 2018. Nicolas Ruszkowski lasted less than one calendar year in his position at the top of the corporate ladder, with the title of chief operating officer.
But as short as those tenures were, Little effectively said, “Hold my $5 pregame beer,” and watched his position evaporate into thin air after just 54 days on the job.
For an organization that actually seemed to be inching towards respectability – albeit at a glacial pace – Little’s sudden departure drags it back into the dysfunctional news cycle it has been desperately trying to escape.
The Senators had been moving the needle in the positive direction lately, with the feel-good Bobby Ryan story not even one week old. Now the club has to answer why another senior executive – who was touted as being the right fit – has suddenly parted ways with the club.
As has been stated before, the number of well-respected people who have left the organization over the last six or seven years under mysterious circumstances would create the perfect basis for an entire season of Stranger Things. The plot summary would simply read: A series of high-profile people vanish from a National Hockey League team without a trace, leaving no explanation for their departures.
Not a single person who has left the organization – Leeder, Anselmi or Ruszkowski – has given an on-the-record account of their departure. All have chosen to take the high road and given the legal ramifications that could be hanging around Little’s departure, it’s safe to assume he won’t speak either.
The common thread in all of these departures, of course, is owner Eugene Melnyk. And whether or not Melnyk is to blame for this latest divorce is immaterial to many Senators fans, who will point the finger in his direction whether he deserves it or not.
The Senators owner, however, has been uncharacteristically quiet this season, declining all media opportunities. So unless Melnyk breaks from his current hiatus with the media and does a surprise round of interviews, it’s safe to assume Little’s abrupt exit from the Senators will simply vanish into the cone of silence along with the others.
There was a time in which being the Senators head coach was the most fragile job in the league – as John Paddock, Craig Hartsburg, Cory Clouston, Paul MacLean, Dave Cameron and Guy Boucher can all attest.
But now it feels like the position in hockey with the least amount of security is the person at the top of the corporate ladder for the Senators.
The press release indicates the search for a new CEO is already underway and we should expect a replacement for Little to be named in the coming weeks.
Whenever that announcement is made, it will be met with a great deal of skepticism and derision in this marketplace and around the NHL.
After all, the new over/under for how long the next CEO of the Senators will last is now set at 54 days.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Little released a statement on his firing late Wednesday afternoon, wishing Senators employees, players and coaches well.
“The statement made today by the team contained some language that deserves some clarification. On Valentine’s Day, the owner and I had a personal disagreement over the approach that I had been pursuing. I am a strong-willed person, and the disagreement included me using some very strong language with him over the phone, including swearing, which he did not appreciate and for which I later apologized.
“It was these events, to my knowledge, which led to my dismissal. Any other inference from the statement is wrong.”
Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.
Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.
The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.
He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.
“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.
The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.
Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.
“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”
The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
