New York Islanders Owners and GM Should Mimic Ottawa Senators

The New York Islanders Ownership and GM should take a page out of the Ottawa Senators book and have a town hall meeting with season ticket holders after this dreadful season.

There are a few parallels between the New York Islanders and the Ottawa Senators this year. First, they’ve both had disappointing seasons. The fans seem to hate a prominent member of the team’s front office. And superstar players that might, or might not be on the way out of town.

Just last season the Ottawa Senators were a goal away from the Stanley Cup Final. This season they’re toiling at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Their Owner, Eugene Melnyk, has been enemy number one for fans thanks to awful comments like the ones he made at the Winter Classic and Centennial celebration of hockey last year. And what’s going on with Erik Karlsson?

The New York Islanders, after having one of the best offensive seasons in the league have now missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. Garth Snow has been enemy number one for years thanks to seasons like this one. And who knows what’s going to happen with John Tavares on July 1.

Unlike the New York Islanders, the Ottawa Senators Owner and GM will hold two day’s worth of Town Hall meetings with season ticket holders.

Town Hall

The Senators will meet with season ticket holders after the #MelnykOut campaign gained some serious clout this season. Four billboards – again, a parallel – went up around the City of Ottawa demanding the Owner sell the club.

We know it won’t happen, Eugene Melnyk, or Garth Snow for that fact, won’t look at these billboards and say: “They don’t like me? They want me gone? Well they know best so out I go!”

The goal for the billboards is to have fans marginalized voices heard. They aren’t happy and they demand answers, accountability and change. And on the surface, it seems the Senators have listened.

Who knows, maybe Eugene Melnyk is bringing all the season ticket holders into one area just to pull a Bryan Trottier double-bird salute. Probably not, he’s probably going to have them all ask him vetted question that he’ll answer with some form of empty empathy and vague promises.

But that’s more then what’s going with the Islanders.

The Islanders have been preaching accountability for the entire season. It’s time that they practice what they preach. Hold a town hall with season ticket holders about the direction of this franchise.

Next: 10 Step Plan To Fix The Islanders

It’s been back-to-back seasons of regression rather than the improvement we were told would be demanded by Owners. Answers need to be given.