Ottawa Senators: CEO Cyril Leeder Returns and Hall of Famer Daniel Alfredsson is Next

Right out of the gate, new Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer is saying and doing all the right things.

When you're new on the scene, it's never a bad play to come bearing gifts. 

New Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer did just that on Friday, officially announcing the re-hiring of the popular Cyril Leeder, one of the club's founders. 

Former owner Eugene Melnyk had fired Leeder as President and CEO back in 2017, and now Andlauer has handed those exact roles right back to him. 

"It's great," Andlauer said. "When I met with the employees a little earlier, I was a little bit intimidated by the ovation I got. And when I told them that Cyril was coming back. They were sort of whistling, and I got an even louder ovation. So I think I did the right thing.

Andlauer probably can't believe his good fortune that such a perfect, plug-and-play option was right here, almost ready and waiting.

"He's got 25 years of experience with the team," Andlauer said. Obviously, the staff knows him. He knows the market. Everyone I've spoken to has the utmost respect for him. He loves this city and he truly bleeds red, black and gold."

To begin his second act, Leeder immediately announced a promotion for Erin Crowe, the club's chief financial officer, who'll now also be the chief operating officer. 

Leeder says he was thankful to Andlauer for giving him a chance to complete some unfinished business.

"It's not often in life you get a second chance or a do-over on things that are really important to you," Leeder said. "And clearly this is one of those occasions for me, personally. And it's not lost on me that I wouldn't get this opportunity if it wasn't for Michael."

Daniel Alfredsson also quietly attended Andlauer's big news conference on Friday. Neither he nor Andlauer said anything to dispel the rumours of the Hall of Famer's return to the club in some capacity. Andlauer spoke glowingly of Alfie, saying he embodies everything you'd want in this community. Then he put the brakes on that discussion, for now.

"It's day two on the job for me," Andlauer told Sportnet. "So stay tuned." 

In a way, Andlauer's early strategy feels like an episode of Seinfeld where George turns his life around by ignoring his instincts and doing the opposite.

If the instincts of the previous ownership were wrong – like saying the wrong things, firing a gem like Leeder, or alienating a legend like Alfredsson – then the opposite would have to be right. 

So far, Andlauer is doing the opposite... and the fan base is loving it.