"Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk admits he lost a lot of money operating his NHL team last season, but he remains committed to the hockey club for the long haul and is wildly optimistic about Ottawa's recent youth movement.

Asked to comment on a Fan 590 discussion in Toronto on Tuesday that Melnyk lost $14 million last season and might be looking to sell the club, Melnyk said: "You know what, they're absolutely dead on — if you put me into the movie Wizard of Oz next to Dorothy while she's clicking her heels.

"They're out of their minds. That team will never be sold," Melnyk said by telephone from his Barbados home.

"Never for sale. Did we lose money last year? No question. Just do the math. I've always said, we've got to go deep into the second round to break even.""