Owner Eugene Melnyk told the Ottawa Sun Wednesday that he is not selling the team.

“I am not selling the team – period. My kids (had) first call on the franchise long ago,” Melnyk said in an email sent to Postmedia.

For the last few weeks, rumours have swirled about a potential sale of the Senators, but Melnyk said the rumours were false.

“Let me set the record straight. I have no idea how a reporter fabricated a fiction about my selling the team,” Melnyk said. “These stories pop up out of nowhere probably from someone ‘hearing something.’”

“(The) only thing I can think of is our routine refinancing of our debt involves a financial ‘roadshow’. Virtually every major Canadian, international and American bank have attended one of over 20 presentations in Toronto, Ottawa and New York.

“This involves accountants, bankers and lawyers. I am not directly involved in this process except for the occasional visit and greetings. Hence, where the sale story must have come from,” Melnyk said. 

While the Senators (10-13-7) have fallen on hard times lately with only two wins in their last 10 games, they did pick up a win over the New York Rangers Wednesday night.

They will be back in action at home against the Montreal Canadiens Saturday night.

The full version of the story written by Bruce Garrioch from the Ottawa Sun can be found here