But what other owner would hire a forensic investigation team on your behalf?!?!
Erik Karlsson was a mere 23 years old when the incident happened. He had won 1 Norris trophy. Was beloved like few others in the league and in this community. While he would win another Norris, anyone with eyes would have seen he was never going to be the same.
He was the Sens most prized possession. Evidence of that, his play after coming back in the 2017 playoff run. Remember how magical.
Given his age, his fitness, his natural energy output, He may have played at a Norris caliber level continuously for another 10-12 years, And he may have still been here. Even at the $11 million he wanted.
Melnyk lost a cherished possession. A player that could have single handedly maintained fan interest in this market for years. That injury ended all of that. And with it has come a fantastic downturn of events. Less the 17 playoff run, there has been nothing else. What impact do you think this has had on the team's value, year to year profitability and so on?
Now relate it you yourself. Imagine a prized possession. Something you worked hard for. Imagine buying a cottage. Enjoying its use, watching its value appreciate. Then one day, an arsonist takes it out. All you end up with is a portion of its true value, financially or sentimentally. You would do your damndest to find out who. Eugene was angry. As he should have been. Millions out the door. A guy tracking to be an all time great was derailed. Do you know who should be even angrier and more willing to hire forensic experts? us. We got robbed. Just as much if not more than Eugene.
in a 6 year span, we got gooned out of a cup in 007 and in 13 we may have been robbed of our mini version of Bobby Orr. One uncontrolled player took out our Bobby Orr. Imagine a 20 year career at 80 points. 1600 points. He had an outside chance at being the NHL's all time leading point getter for a defenseman. All gone.