Michael Andlauer will have to roll up his sleeves once he takes over the Ottawa Senators

Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion (left) and head coach D.J. Smith. Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia

The Ottawa Senators will have a new face in the owner’s seat when next season gets under way and they’ll have no shortage of work to do.

While fans may expect to see changes right away after Toronto businessman Michael Andlauer agreed to a deal in principle Tuesday to become the club’s new owner, that’s hardly going to be the immediate case.

As Postmedia reported two weeks ago, the groups that made final bids on the Senators understood they wouldn’t be able to have any say on next month’s NHL draft in Nashville or the free-agency period that opens July 1.

If you’re expecting additions or subtractions from the front office, that won’t happen either. A league source told this newspaper Tuesday the deal likely won’t close until late August or early September.

That’s because it’s going to take a while to paper this deal and until then the Melnyk estate — led by the club’s three-person board — will be making the decisions until they hand the keys over to Andlauer.

The ideal scenario would see the sale papered and completed by Canada Day, but that really doesn’t sound like it’s going to be the case here.

So, what’s on the plate when Andlauer does take over?

HOCKEY OPERATIONS

General manager Pierre Dorion and coach D.J. Smith have led this club through this rebuild so decisions need to be made on their futures.

Given the fact this deal may not close immediately, it would make sense to go into next season with both in their current roles. The Senators are at the point where all the pain, suffering and heartbreak of missing the playoffs may be about to pay dividends with the right moves made.

Don’t be surprised if this group leads this team into next season.

Smith has a year left on his contract with an option through the 2024-25 campaign while Dorion has two years left with an option.

Dorion will try to address the club’s goaltending issue, either through a trade at the draft in Nashville, or through free agency on July 1. If he’s able do that then that will go a long way in helping this club solidify a playoff spot.

A decision has to be made on the future of winger Alex DeBrincat.

Dorion has stated he’ll make a $9-million qualifying offer to the restricted free agent, but since DeBrincat won’t sign an extension, there’s a strong possibility he’ll be traded before the draft.

The Senators don’t have a selection until the fourth round of the draft this spring, but they’ll be able to get one back as part of a package if they do decide to deal to DeBrincat.

By all accounts DeBrincat likes it here, he enjoys being around his teammates and had a good experience in his first season with the Senators. But he doesn’t want to spend the next eight years of his career in Canada.

The Senators want to make the playoffs next season and they should after missing for the sixth straight year, but they need to make the right additions in the off-season to put them over the top.

This roster feels like it’s on the verge of something special, led by captain Brady Tkachuk and centre Tim Stutzle.

LEBRETON FLATS

This will be the biggest decision the new owner will make.

We know that Andlauer wants to build an arena downtown and has been putting plans in place to make that happen. He has former Senators president Cyril Leeder consulting him.

While negotiations between National Capital Commission officials and Senators management are continuing in hopes of getting a lease in place by fall for a new arena at LeBreton Flats, Postmedia reported last month staff at city hall are preparing other possibilities for the new owner.

That’s because all the groups involved in the sale of the Senators had concerns about the size of the parcel of land at LeBreton. Even commissioner Gary Bettman noted when he was here that the seven acres “seemed a little small” and that’s why the NCC has indicated it will negotiate.

Though Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe mentioned several options for a new home for the Senators, sources say the leading contender is Bayview Yards, which is located just west of LeBreton Flats and north of Scott Street.

The site is approximately 13.5 acres, which is close to double the size of LeBreton Flats. It’s well-served by light-rail transit from the east and west, plus it’s a transfer station from the south.

Sutcliffe suggested two other sites — including the RCGT baseball stadium and a site near Hurdman Station — but sources say neither make sense.

Since the Senators won preferred-bidder status from the NCC in June 2022 to build a rink on a seven-acre parcel of land at LeBreton Flats, we’ve insisted the city will have to play a role to make the project work.

DANIEL ALFREDSSON

The former Senators captain has stated publicly he’d like to play a “meaningful role” in hockey operations with the club’s new ownership group.

He had groups reach out to him during this process but declined to join anybody. The expectation is Andlauer will likely have a discussion with Alfredsson to see where he might be able to help. That doesn’t mean it’s a done deal by any stretch but there may be mutual interest.