Senators owner Eugene Melnyk called it a “stupid survey.”

That’s probably because he knew what it would reveal.

The ninth and final segment in our Senators post-mortem, our ‘You Be The Boss’ poll asked fans for their help in pinpointing problems from the most disappointing season in team history, as well as advice on moves to be made going forward. It was received with approximately 5,800 readers filling out the 27-part questionnaire that was on-line for less than four days.

The poll also appeared in the morning paper on April 9, the day before Melnyk and GM Pierre Dorion met with season ticket-holders for a series of three town-hall gatherings. During the second session, which was off-limits to the media, Melnyk went on about our “stupid survey … it’s all, ‘Who do we blame for this? Coach, owner, general manager, players?’

“We don’t blame anybody,” he added. “We look forward. Losers look to blame. They don’t know what to do. In our case, we know what to do.”

On Friday, Melnyk’s Twitter account thanked everybody for their feedback in the town halls, which he suddenly decided to give a name: “Losers Blame Others and Winners Plan To Succeed.”

This is priceless, for at least three reasons.

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— Real fans of sports teams that have failed miserably don’t sit around a bar or at home or at the office talking about a “plan to succeed.” They are not part of that process. They are angry, and they point fingers. Then they passionately argue about how to rectify the issues.

— First, Melnyk blamed Cyril Leeder for not selling enough tickets, which is why the well-respected franchise co-founder and former president/CEO is no longer with the team. Then he blamed the fans for attendance problems. Then he blamed the media for the “mischaracterization” of his rant on Parliament Hill. And raise your hand if you’re a Senators employee who hasn’t been blamed for one thing or another. Didn’t think so.

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— Again, what had Melnyk up in arms was the poll’s first question — about who is to blame for his mess — and leading the way with 32% of votes was (surprise, surprise), the owner. Clearly, he saw this coming. Hence, the attempt to discredit the poll. The 5,766 “losers” who answered the question either didn’t like that he gave no mind to what it would do to future game results when he rubber stamped a schedule that was unreasonably jam-packed so the team could go to Sweden, or didn’t like the trading of Kyle Turris (who blamed the owner for no longer wanting him), or the threats to cut player salaries and relocate, or appointing himself CEO/president, or … ahh, we’re running out of space. Let’s move on to the rest of the poll.

Questions 2, 3, 4, 5 all deal with what you’ve deemed the most pressing priority entering the off-season: Finding a way to keep Erik Karlsson. Judging by the results, the majority want the captain re-signed to an eight-year contract worth at least $80 million. Again, no surprise. But don’t hold your breath. Whereas another team might secure the future Hall of Famer and build around him, the current ownership is asking your patience to stretch “3-5 years” after Karlsson is moved, which might in fact wind up being a good hockey trade but will definitely create a customer uproar.

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The majority want Matt Duchene offered a four- or five-year extension and Ryan Dzingel asked to accept a two-year bridge deal, which may or may not be enough to prevent the highly skilled forwards from entering the final seasons of their contact. My hunch is both would be more open to those offers if Karlsson was staying.

More of you (42 per cent) want coach Guy Boucher fired, but I’m in agreement with the 39 percent who believe he should be given a chance to start next season, if only because of what he accomplished in Year 1 and there’s no more qualified option available.

Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photo / Getty Images

If Boucher is dismissed, the fans would like to see Alain Vigneault behind the Ottawa bench. Great choice. Vigneault has taken two different teams to the Cup final in the past eight years. But the extension he signed with the Rangers reportedly will pay him $4 million in each of the next two seasons. Unless it’s Monopoly money, the Senators won’t pay anywhere close to that. Next.

Ottawa could use a former player as an assistant. Adding Chris Kelly is an idea supported by 52%, even though he has yet to retire or make it known he wants to coach. I agree with the 24% thinking it should be Shaun Van Allen, who was interviewed by Boucher two summers ago and has been coaching Carleton Ravens for eight years.

Tough to argue with the 78% who say Mark Stone should be the next captain if Karlsson is gone, or the 46% who would buy out Marian Gaborik’s contract (in a heart beat). But the 38% who think the Senators should fix their goaltending problems by trading Craig Anderson are being unrealistic thinking another team would take the soon-to-be 37-year old who is due $4.75 million in each of the next two seasons and no, none of the goaltenders who will be UFAs in the summer appeal to me, either. Therein lies the pickle.

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Fans would most like to see the team pursue John Tavares and John Carlson when they hit the market on July 1, but the bidding war on both will be too much for the Senators, I think.

I concur with the majority who think Chris Wideman should be brought back, Collin White will be a third or fourth liner in Ottawa next season, Magnus Paajarvi has shown enough to be re-signed as long as it’s with only a small raise, Thomas Chabot can fill the role of a No. 1 power-play quarterback and Christian Wolanin looks like he’s ready to move ahead of Ben Harpur and Freddy Claesson on the depth chart.

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But I think when it comes to adding depth, the Senators priority is to find some wingers who can score.

And yes, the addition of Daniel Alfredsson would most help management of the team, in whatever capacity, but I don’t think he’s coming back under the current ownership.

Finally, in a straight ‘yes or no’ question, 61% say they would buy more tickets if Melnyk sold the team.

Stupid survey, right Eugene?

YOU BE THE BOSS: Ottawa Senators Fan Poll

Total respondents: 5,830

Question 1: Who is most to blame for the Senators lousy season?

Owner – 32%

Coaches – 27%

Players – 27%

General Manager – 14%

Question 2: What should be the top priority for the team going forward?

Keeping Erik Karlsson – 65%

Acquiring an experienced/established goalie – 15%

Signing Mark Stone to a long-term deal – 12%

Getting Matt Duchene’s name on an extension -9%

Question 3: What should GM Pierre Dorion do with Karlsson?

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Make him an offer he can’t refuse when negotiations can begin ( July 1 ) – 50%

Remain patient and try to work out the best deal, contract or trade, through the summer – 35%

Trade him before the entry draft ( June 22-23 ) – 9%

If all else fails, hang on to him until next season’s trade deadline – 6%

Question 4: Would you offer Karlsson the longest term allowed? (eight years)

YES – 75%

NO – 25%

Question 5: How much should the average annual value be on Karlsson’s new contract?

$10-11 million -45%

$9-10 million – 29%

$11-12 million – 19%

$12 million + – 7%

Question 6: What to do with Matt Duchene?

Try to get him on a four or five-year deal – 67%

Long-term him for eight years – 17%

See what he does in the first half of next season first – 12%

Trade him at the deadline – 3%

Question 7: Ryan Dzingel is also about to enter his last season before becoming a UFA. Do you…

Offer him a bridge (2 years) extension in the summer – 50%

Sign him to a Mike Hoffman type deal (4 years, $20.75 million) – 27%

Wait and see what he does in the first half next season – 15%

Trade him while there still appears to be some upside – 7%

Question 8: Should Guy Boucher be fired?

YES – 42%

Give him the first 20 games of the season – 39%

NO – 19%

Question 9: If Boucher does not return, who should be the new coach?

Alain Vigneault – 40%

Marc Crawford – 20%

Dan Bylsma – 17%

Dave Tippett – 9%

Kurt Kleinendorst – 2%

Other – 12%

Notable write-ins:

Jacques Martin

Kirk Muller

Luke Richardson

Daniel Alfredsson

Sheldon Keefe

Darryl Sutter

Ted Nolan

Paul Maclean

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Question 10: If you were going to add a former player to the coaching staff, who would it be?

Chris Kelly – 52%

Shaun Van Allen – 24%

Denny Lambert – 3%

Jody Hull – 2%

Other -18%

Notable write-ins:

Chris Neil

Daniel Alfredsson

Luke Richardson

Chris Phillips

Question 11: Why was the team so bad this season?

Goaltending – 33%

Poorly constructed team – 19%

Team defence – 16%

Coaching – 16%

Off-ice distractions – 10%

Lack of scoring – 6%

Question 12: If Karlsson is gone, who is your captain next season?

Mark Stone – 78%

Matt Duchene – 12%

Jean-Gabriel Pageau – 4%

Zack Smith – 3%

Mark Borowiecki – 3%

Question 13: Rasmus Dahlin will be the first overall draft pick. If the Senators don’t have No. 1, who should they take?

Brady Tkachuk – 38%

Filip Zadina – 29%

Andrei Svechniko – 27%

Adam Boqvist – 7%

Question 14: If the Senators are going to buy out one player, who should it be?

Marian Gaborik ($4.875 milion, three more years) – 46%

Bobby Ryan ($7.25 million, four more years) – 35%

Alex Burrows ($2.5 million, one more year) – 19%

Question 15: What should be done with Cody Ceci, who can become an RFA July 1 ?

Bridge contract -44%

Trade him – 38%

Long-term contract – 18%

Question 16: What should be done to improve the goaltending situation?

Trade Craig Anderson – 38%

Nothing — Anderson and Condon will bounce back – 36%

Trade Mike Condon -26%

Question 17: Which of these goalie UFAs would help the Senators?

None of the above – 43%

Petr Mrazek – 31%

Cam Ward – 10%

Jaroslav Halak – 9%

Kari Lehtonen – 5%

Other – 3%

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Notable write-ins:

Filip Gustavsson

Carter Hutton

Question 18: Which front line UFA should be pursued come July 1 ?

John Tavares – 46%

James Neal – 23%

Paul Statsny – 19%

Rick Nash – 19%

Other – 8%

Notable write-ins:

None of the above

Calvin de Haan

Question 19: Which one of these veteran UFA defenceman would you offer a contract?

John Carlson – 36%

Jack Johnson – 21%

Mike Green – 18%

Toby Enstrom – 13%

Jason Garrison – 4%

Other – 7%

Notable write-ins:

None of the above

Calvin de Haan

Question 20: Do you offer Chris Wideman a contract?

YES – 65%

NO – 35%

Question 21: Where do you have Colin White pencilled in for next season?

Ottawa’s bottom six -48%

Ottawa’s top six – 33%

More developing playing every situation in Belleville -19%

Question 22: What position should be the GM’s No. 1 priority in adding depth?

Defence – 35%

Goal – 30%

Centre – 21%

Wing – 13%

Question 23: Has former first rounder Magnus Paajarvi shown enough (six goals, eight points, 33 games) to be brought back?

Yes, at a small raise on his $800,000 contract – 44%

Yes, at the same price tag or less – 42%

NO – 14%

Question 24: Are you comfortable with Thomas Chabot being your No. 1 power play quarterback next season?

YES -60%

NO – 40%

Question 25: If Chabot and Borowiecki are two of your three left-side defenceman, who is third?

Christian Wolanin – 47%

Freddy Claesson – 30%

Ben Harpur – 20%

Other – 3%

Notable write-ins:

UFA

Calvin de Haan

Rasmus Dahlin

Question 26: What addition would help the management of the team more?

Daniel Alfredsson – 33%

More scouts – 29%

Cyril Leeder – 19%

More coaches at development level – 19%

Question 27: Would you buy more tickets if Eugene Melnyk sold the team?

YES – 61%

NO – 39%

dbrennan@postmedia.com