Senators owner Eugene Melnyk optimistic on Lebreton Flats deal

Senators owner Eugene Melnyk. (Wayne Cuddington/ Postmedia)Eugene Melnyk is hopeful negotiations with the National Capital Commission on the development of Lebreton Flats will be completed before the end of the year, and he has repeated getting a downtown arena is paramount.

The Senators owner, speaking on Hockey Central at Noon on Wednesday, chose his words carefully but indicated talks with the NCC are ongoing and he’s optimistic they will be able to get everything in place to begin building the new arena at the location just west of the downtown core.

“We have to be respectful of the process, so I’ve got to be careful,” Melnyk said in the interview “But I’m hoping that this is negotiated…