Ottawa

Eugene Melnyk, Ottawa Senators owner, stable, responsive after liver transplant

Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, who underwent a successful liver transplant on Tuesday in Toronto, is in stable condition and responsive, but can't yet speak, according to team president and CEO Cyril Leeder.

Senators president and CEO Cyril Leeder says owner can't speak after surgery on Tuesday

RAW Cyril Leeder updates Eugene Melnyk's condition

10 years ago
Duration 3:55
The Ottawa Senators' team owner is in stable condition and responsive.

Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is in stable condition and responsive, but can't yet speak after a successful liver transplant on Tuesday in Toronto, according to team president and CEO Cyril Leeder.

The surgery took place Tuesday at Toronto General Hospital and lasted about eight hours. The Senators said Melnyk and the anonymous donor were doing well and resting comfortably at the hospital.

Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk battled liver issues that hospitalized him in late April 2015. (Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)
Melnyk went into surgery at noon Eastern time, and it was completed at 8:05 p.m., the Senators said.

Doctors at Toronto General Hospital are also scheduled to update the public on Melnyk's transplant on Thursday at 11 a.m. ET.

Leeder also said the Senators would put an extra focus on promoting organ donation in the years to come.

The team announced last week that Melnyk was in need of a live liver transplant and put 12 people through a screening process.