Ryan Reynolds visits Ottawa amid Senators purchase buzz

Canadian-born Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds — one of the more prominent suitors interested in purchasing the Ottawa Senators — is in the capital.

On Thursday morning, Reynolds posted an Instagram story captioned "Ottawa friends" and accompanied by a Canadian flag.

The photo showed him with his arm around the shoulders of Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, standing in front of the City of Ottawa crest.

Chris Bratty, president of The Remington Group — the Toronto real estate company with whom Reynolds is reportedly teaming up to bid for the Senators — is also pictured with Reynolds and Sutcliffe.

City officials confirmed to CBC that Reynolds met with the mayor at about 9:30 a.m. ET.

More interested buyers may visit: mayor 

In an interview Thursday, Sutcliffe said he has met with two groups already and believes more interested bidders are expected to visit Ottawa next week. It's not clear if Reynolds and Remington belong to one of the two groups with whom the mayor has already met.

"They're just gathering information so they can submit their final bids and I've said I'm available to meet with whoever is interested," Sutcliffe said.

WATCH | Sutcliffe on his brush with Hollywood:

Sutcliffe added the groups are also meeting with the Senators management team and the National Capital Commission (NCC), with whom the Senators inked a deal last year to build a new arena at LeBreton Flats near downtown Ottawa.

Early Thursday afternoon, Reynolds was spotted exiting NCC headquarters in downtown Ottawa before climbing into a waiting SUV. He was wearing a jacket promoting Wrexham AFC, a team he co-owns in England's fifth tier of soccer.

In an email to CBC, a spokesperson for the NCC said the commission has also made itself available to answer any questions from the shortlisted groups of potential buyers.

NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum met with representatives of The Remington Group "including Ryan Reynolds" on Thursday, the spokesperson confirmed.

"We answered their questions on the memorandum of understanding with Capital Sports Development Inc. and the Building LeBreton project."

Around 6 groups interested: commissioner

Reynolds's visit comes just days after NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman visited the city on Monday.

Bettman told reporters there are "somewhere around six" groups vying to purchase the team, and said the new owner will likely be announced by "early mid-summer." New York investment bankers Galatioto Sports Partners are overseeing the sales process.

"I look forward to seeing how the process plays out," Sutcliffe said Thursday.

Toronto billionaire and minority Montreal Canadiens owner Michaal Andlauer has put in a bid, as have the Kimel brothers of Harlo Capital, according to both CBC sources and other news outlets.

Like Andlauer, Jeffrey Kimel is already involved in the NHL as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins management committee.

According to The Athletic, Los Angeles-based AI entrepreneur Neko Sparks is preparing a bid, and even retweeted a post by that publication about his interest in the Senators.

The Senators hosted the Philadelphia Flyers at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday evening.

Reynolds popped up in the crowd with about five minutes left in the first period.

"It's been an interesting week to say the least," Sutcliffe said. "Joe Biden was here and then Gary Bettman was here. Now Ryan Reynolds. Who knows who will be next?"