31,312 fans for a winless Ottawa team is the real reason Kyle Walters won’t make a panic t

Drawing a near-full crowd of 31,312 for an 0-9 opponent — after two straight home losses — gives the front office financial cover to treat 5-4 as “on schedule.” That revenue cushion buys patience at the trade deadline, but with B.C. (4-5) and Calgary (4-6) lurking, another losing stretch in the next four games will make that patience impossible to sell internally.