NHL Rumors: Ottawa Senators Received $1B Bid to Buy Team; At Least 3 Offers Made

At least one group interested in purchasing the NHL's Ottawa Senators is reportedly willing to pay $1 billion.

According to A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports, there were at least three bids submitted for the team prior to Monday's deadline at the end of the business day. One of those bids was valued "at or above $1 billion."

Six groups were considered "in the mix" ahead of the deadline.

Perez noted an announcement on the winning bid is not expected for approximately one week as Galatioto Sports Partners reviews the submissions.

A group with Sacramento Kings governor Vivek Ranadivé, a group with Montreal Canadiens minority owner Michael Andlauer and a group that includes Snoop Dogg are among those who could have submitted bids Monday.

Snoop Dogg wasn't the only celebrity involved in this entire process, as there was a time when it seemed like actor Ryan Reynolds could be part of the group that landed the Senators.

Yet ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported Thursday that Reynolds' bid would not move forward in part because he was not granted an exclusive negotiating window he was looking for in the potential sale. He was attached to a group led by real estate developer Remington Group, and the bid was expected to be more than $1 billion.

Reynolds has found success as a co-owner of Welsh soccer club, Wrexham AFC, with fellow actor Rob McElhenney. Under their ownership, Wrexham clinched promotion to Football League Two following a 15-year drought.

The Senators are up for sale following the death of owner Eugene Melnyk, and Kaplan noted one of the NHL's stipulations is the team must remain in Ottawa.

Forbes valued the franchise at $800 million in December, but it seems like the sale will end up generating more than that number given the latest developments.

Ottawa has been stuck in something of a rough patch of late and missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season with a 39-35-8 record in 2022-23.