It's playoffs or bust for the Ottawa Senators in 2023-24. Ryan Kennedy and Mike Stephens preview their season. Michael Andlauer [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk4NjM3MzI1NjA4MDM2MTAz/dsc_7304.jpg] Michael Andlauer The NHL announced on Thursday the league's board of governors has unanimously approved the sale of the Ottawa Senators to billionaire Michael Andlauer. Andlauer won the Senators' bidding process back in June, with today's news officially giving him ownership of the club. “The Senators are an amazing organization, from the players to the staff, to the most passionate fan base in the game," said Andlauer in a statement on Thursday [https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/senators-sports-entertainment-announces-that-michael-andlauer-has-purchased-the-ottawa-senators-hockey-club]. "My family and I are thrilled to officially be a part of Ottawa’s team and the Ottawa-Gatineau community.” Andlauer also wrote a separate letter directed to Sens fans [https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/a-letter-from-michael-andlauer], making note of the team being two hours away from the Montreal Canadiens and four hours away from the Toronto Maple Leafs. "We are the team that plays between two large hockey markets who both believe they are the center of the hockey universe," he said. "I have been the underdog my whole life, and I know we have the team, staff, fans and community to prove them wrong." Andlauer, 57, is the founder and CEO of Andlauer Healthcare Group, which offers logistics, temperature-controlled transportation and other transport solutions for the healthcare sector. He owned 10 percent of the Montreal Canadiens and had to sell his stake in the team to own the Senators. He also owns the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs, formerly known as the Hamilton Bulldogs, which most recently won the OHL championship in 2021-22. Andlauer is now the fourth majority owner in Senators history after Bruce Firestone, Rod Bryden, and Eugene Melnyk, who passed away in March 2022. Included in Andlauer's ownership group is Eugene Melnyk's daughters, Anna and Olivia Melnyk, according to Postmedia [https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ottawa-senators/garrioch-its-official-michael-andlauer-is-the-new-owner-of-the-ottawa-senators]. Also included Rocco Tullio, president and governor of the Oshawa Generals, who released a statement on Thursday. "I couldn't be more excited to be a part of this historic deal," Tullio said in the statement [https://x.com/Oshawa_Generals/status/1704981402737897555?s=20]. "I plan to bring the exact same winning mentality I have here in Oshawa to the people of Ottawa, winning the great fans a Stanley Cup." There have been a handful of staff changes to the Senators since Andlauer was announced the preferred bidder back in June, although he now only officially gets control of the team on Thursday. Steve Warne kept track of those changes on THN's Ottawa site [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/features/michael-andlauer-era-begins-in-ottawa-staff-additions-subtractions-changes-and-rumours].
