The Ottawa Senators may have their pick of new owners.
The first round of bids were due Monday, and Galatioto Sports Partners will now determine if another round is necessary. The Ottawa Sun reported that the league has received at least three bids so far, and possibly a fourth.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman previously said that more than 15 groups were given access to the club’s finances. Forbes last valued the Senators at $800 million — the 24th-most-valuable NHL franchise. There are currently 32 NHL teams.
The league would reportedly like to have the new owners in place by July 1.
It was reported last month that actor and Wrexham AFC owner Ryan Reynolds was partnering with a consortium led by The Remington Group, a Toronto-based real estate developer, for a bid.
Reports from January listed actor, producer, and tech entrepreneur Neko Sparks as a potential bidder. If successful, he would be the first Black owner in NHL history.
Other possible contenders include a group led by Andlauer Healthcare Group owner Michael Andlauer, as well as the Kimel family, who are real estate developers. The latter sold their minority share in the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2021.
The Senators’ late owner Eugene Melnyk purchased the team for $92 million in 2003 to save it from bankruptcy. The team was left to his daughters, Anna and Olivia, after he died in March 2022, and was put up for sale in November.
