Melnyk commits to rebuilding Sens into contenders in letter to fans

Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk shed some light on his future plans for the organization in a letter sent to its fans Thursday.

"This has been a disappointing season for our team," Melnyk said in the letter, per Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Sun. "Our place in the standings speaks for itself. Trust me, no one is more aware of this - and more frustrated by it - than I am."

The Senators sit 29th in the league and have endured a difficult season that began with the optimism of building off last season's run to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final.

"Enduring a tough year has given us a chance for clear-eyed evaluation," Melnyk said. "This is an ongoing process, but I can tell you one thing: We are not looking to tweak our lineup, nor mortgage our future for stop-gap solutions."

"As a team, we need to get younger, faster, and more skilled."

Ottawa has undergone plenty of roster change over the course of the season, acquiring Matt Duchene for Kyle Turris and shipping off Derick Brassard at the trade deadline, while holding off on a potential Erik Karlsson deal that had the hockey world on the edge of its seat.

Melnyk made it clear he wants to shift the focus to his club's future, including developing a downtown arena at LeBreton Flats and making the Senators competitive once again.

"On a personal level, let me repeat that I have every intention of rebuilding the Senators to become the finest team in the NHL and bringing a Stanley Cup to Ottawa."

Melnyk's entire message can be read here.