nhl

Snoop Dogg Joins Bid For Ottawa Senators Ownership

by

Snoop Dogg has become more than just a music icon. The legendary entertainer has always been a huge sports fan. Including wearing his heart on his sleeve for his Los Angeles Lakers recent playoff run. As well as stealing the show at this past year’s Wrestlemania. Now, Snoop is looking to extend his reach to more than just being a sports fan. The Rap legend is looking to become a sports franchise owner. However, it may be in the sport that everyone would least expect.

On Monday, Snoop made an Instagram post expressing his excitement about the possibility of becoming an NHL owner. The Ottawa Senators are the latest NHL franchise looking for new ownership. “Amazing what @neko_sparks is trying to do in Ottawa & I’m looking forward to being apart of that ownership team. I WANNA BRING HOCKEY TO OUR COMMUNITY,” Snoop captioned in a photo of Sparks being connected to the Senators. However, Snoop isn’t the only celebrity interested in becoming an owner of the NHL franchise.

Snoop Dogg Wants To Bring The NHL To The Culture

Candian megastar Ryan Reynolds is also part of a separate ownership bid for the Ottawa franchise. Reynolds already has some experience as a sports owner. As the ‘Deadpool’ star, along with Rob McElhenney, are owners of the National League soccer team Wrexham A.F.C. However, Reynolds has long desired a chance to become an NHL owner. However, it doesn’t seem that the franchise is leaning one way or another with the direction they are looking for new ownership.

Snoop is excited at the opportunity to be a part of the first Black ownership in the NHL. If the bid, including Snoop, becomes official, the move will be a massive milestone for the sport. However, nothing has been made official by the franchise or current ownership. But if it does become official, does a team owned by Snoop Dogg easily become the most popular in the league? What would the ownership mean for the Senators franchise? Let us know what you think in our comment section. For the latest news on HIp-Hop and sports, keep it right here with HNHH.

[Via]

Drake Celebrates Historic Toronto Hockey Win

by

On April 29, the Toronto Maple Leafs edged the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in overtime to win their first-round NHL playoff series 4-2. It was a monumental achievement for the Leafs, who had not progressed past the first round of the playoffs since 2004. While the Leafs had made the playoffs every year since 2017, they were eliminated in the opening round every time. The post-2004 drought also included 7 consecutive seasons where the Leafs missed the playoffs entirely.

The city of Toronto was awash with jubilant hockey fans, celebrating the team’s win. The win was especially sweet given the Lightning eliminated the Leafs in the first round last season. Among the celebrating fans was Drake, the Toronto-born rapper and die-hard Leafs fan. Drake has never been shy about his hockey fandom. Furthermore, his OVO clothing brand has previously collabed with the Leafs.

Drake Shares Emotional Post On Instagram

A year ago, Drake posted a “goodnight Tampa” message on Instagram right before the Leafs choked a game-seven loss. Now he had reason to celebrate. Taking to his Instagram story, Drake posted a picture of a video of raucous celebrations in Toronto. He included an emoji whose eyes are welling up with tears. The rapper was not in attendance, instead performing in Chile. Drake, born October 1986, has never seen his Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Finals. The closest they have come in his lifetime is a 4-3 loss in the 1993 Conference Finals. The Maple Leafs will face the winner of the Bruins-Panthers series, which concludes on Sunday.

Drake recently took flak in another Toronto sports matter. When the Toronto Raptors were downed by the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Play-In. Some people blamed Drake. “That’s on Drake, really. If you don’t have Drake and if that doesn’t work the niceties of offering her things to make her stop shrieking, you get physical. You get her out,” radio host Pat Boyle said of DeMar DeRozan’s daughter. Boyle would go on to tweet “Explain yourself @Drake why weren’t you there last night? The Raptors loss is on you for not incentivizing Diar DeRozan to be quiet during free throws.”

[via]

Ryan Reynolds Preparing $1B Bid For Senators

by

Ryan Reynolds has thrown himself head-first into the world of sports ownership in recent years. Most notably, he purchased Wrexham AFC in the fifth tier of English soccer in 2020. Wrexham recently earned promotion to the fourth tier of English soccer after 15 years stuck in the fifth. Reynolds has also explored numerous non-acting opportunities in recent years, including gin and telecommunications. Aside from his acting chops, he is gaining a reputation as a savvy businessman.

Now Reynolds is Canadian and proud of it. Born in Vancouver, the 46-year-old spent time in the Ottawa neighborhood of Vanier as a child. He grew up as a fan of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators and in 2022, told Jimmy Fallon he would be interested in purchasing the team. Now that the dream appears to becoming more of a reality.

Reynolds Leading $1 Billion Ownership Group

The Ottawa Senators have been for sales for several months now. This follows the death of Eugene Melnyk, who had owned the team since 2003. According to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, there are several groups in the running for ownership. One group is led by healthcare billionaire Michael Andlauer. Another is financed by the Kimel Family, a prominent real estate magnate in Canada. However, there is also a different Hollywood contingent. Neko Sparks is leading the group that includes Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and several high profile Senators alum. Sparks is a long-time film producer and a well-respected name around Hollywood. He’s hoping to prevail despite the buzz around Reynolds’ reported interest in buying the team.

Then there’s Reynolds’ bid. Reported to be in the region of $1 billion, Reynolds leads a team backed by the Remington Group. This includes real estate mogul Chris Batty. Reynolds and Batty are reportedly ready to be “aggressive” with their bid ahead of the reported May 15 deadline for offers. Reynolds’ $1.35B sale of his mobile network, Mint Mobile, earlier this year was seen as revenue generation for a Senators ownership bid. Bettman and the NHL are eager to get the new ownership installed before the 2023/24 season and would be looking to name new ownership by the summer.

[via]