Entertainment Sports Ryan Reynolds Interested in Buying Ottawa Senators If the Team Comes Up for Sale: Source Owning a professional sports team is not uncharted territory for the actor, who along with Rob McElhenney purchased the Welsh football club Wrexham AFC in 2021 By Ryan Parker Ryan Parker Ryan Parker is the former Senior News Editor, Weekends for PEOPLE. He left PEOPLE in 2023. People Editorial Guidelines Published on November 2, 2022 07:41PM EDT Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Ryan Reynolds is very interested in buying the Ottawa Senators should the NHL team ultimately be sold, a source tells PEOPLE. Beyond the business opportunity, it is important to Reynolds the team stay in Ottawa, as a sale could result in relocation, the source close to the Deadpool actor exclusively explains to PEOPLE. A representative for Reynolds, 46, declined to comment when contacted by PEOPLE. The NHL did not immediately respond when reached for a statement while the team could not be reached for comment. Wrexham FC Striker Ollie Palmer Says Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney Are 'Passionate' Owners Jeff Vinnick/NHLI/Getty The news comes on the heels of rumblings that the team's board of directors is reportedly lining up for a potential sale, which was first reported by Sportico. According to the outlet, the team hired Galatioto Sports Partners (GSP), a sports banking firm, which could be interpreted as a sign of a sale. GSP President Sal Galatioto declined to comment to PEOPLE concerning a possible sale. Reports of the potential sale surfaced months after the March 28 death of owner Eugene Melnyk, who left the team to his two daughters, Anna and Olivia. A board of directors currently runs the franchise on the daughters' behalf. Ryan Reynolds Says Blake Lively Helped Him See 'the Blind Spots' Before Buying Wrexham FC Bruce Firestone, the team's founder, recently told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that it was likely time for a change in ownership. "With the team on the upswing, there will likely be quite a bit of interest," he said. "My hope is that a local group will take over, and I've spoken with a few who may participate." Firestone told PEOPLE via email on Wednesday that he is aware of "at least two local groups who are looking at the opportunity," but he had not heard Reynolds' name attached to either. Reynolds, according to PEOPLE's source, has kept his (team interest) cards close to his chest. That is, until Tuesday when a Twitter user mentioned to him that the team was up for sale and the Spirited star replied with the hand-on-the-chin interested emoji. Reports of a sale come mere months after the Senators inked a deal with the National Capital Commission potentially bringing a new NHL arena to LeBreton Flats near downtown Ottawa, the CBC reported. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Owning a professional sports team is not uncharted territory for Reynolds. In February 2021, Reynolds and fellow actor Rob McElhenney purchased the Welsh football club Wrexham AFC.