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I’ve been a fan of this team through so many ups and downs. The 2007 Cup run. Lockouts. Ottawa hosting the All Star game. Alfie leaving. Bryan Murray revealing his diagnosis and stepping back to spend time with his family. Alfie returning to retire a Senator, and Ottawa’s first official number retirement. The 2015 playoffs run. And the disaster that was last season.

Through it all, my commitment to this team never faltered. Not when the team was bankrupt, not when the unthinkable happened and they couldn’t re-sign Alfie, and not when they were vying for the draft lottery instead of the Cup. Not until now.

This team is in trouble — and you are the problem.

This team is in trouble — and you are the problem. Now let me be clear: I don’t work in the front office, and I don’t know how the team is actually being run. I wasn’t privy to the negotiations between Pierre Dorion and Karlsson’s agent — or between Bryan Murray and Alfie’s, for that matter — so I can’t know how much truth there is to the rumours and gossip. But, speaking as a fan, as someone whose money you rely on for this team to succeed, we see you as the problem. And I would hope that a business person as experienced as yourself would realize that being seen as a problem by a large portion of your client base effectively makes you one, whatever the truth is about how you’re managing the team. You are a liability and your insistence on being involved is hurting your own bottom line.

I — and the rest of the Sens Army — put up with your tendency to stir the pot on Toronto radio (albeit begrudgingly). I tried to ignore the rumours that you pressured your GM for a quick fix or to push for Alfie to take yet another hometown discount. I kept going to Sens games after your absurd, outrageous behaviour at the Centennial Classic weekend (and before you suggest I’ve fallen for “fake news,” I’m talking about your widely reported quotes comparing the team to a McDonald’s: “So imagine if you own a McDonald’s franchise, you can move it. But it’s nuts, why would you sell it? It’s something that’s very difficult to buy.”)