Official Ottawa Senators Thread
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GhostofPotvin29
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Good for him for coming back and playing 7 days after his mother died, but that doesn't change my opinion of him. Still don't like him.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
But in all seriousness, that's sweet for you guys.
Madferret
New member
Alfredsson 'excited to get ready' for 17th season
Senators captain makes it official, says he's returning to team for 2012-13 campaign
Daniel Alfredsson isn't ready just yet to say goodbye to the game he loves.
After taking three months to ponder his future, the Senators captain has decided he'll return to Ottawa this fall to play out the final season of a contract he signed in October 2008. It will be his 17th National Hockey League campaign in a Senators jersey.
"I'm excited to get ready for another season," the 39-year-old Alfredsson said from his hometown of Goteborg, Sweden, where he's spent more than a month vacationing with his family. "I've been training for about a month and a half and my body feels a lot further ahead of where it was last year at this point. I expect to come into camp fitter and stronger than I did last year."
When the Senators' 2011-12 season ended with a 2-1 setback at the hands of the New York Rangers in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarter-final series, Alfredsson said he needed time to determine whether he still had the fire to do the necessary off-season training to prepare himself for one more year.
Clearly, that answer is yes and it's a decision that also sits well with his wife, Bibbi, and his four sons, who Alfredsson says were leaning on him to keep playing.
"My kids have (had) me playing the whole time," Alfredsson said with a chuckle. "They've been bugging me and I think they would have been really disappointed if I didn't play. And my wife and I, we feel that our family situation will be easier this season coming up than it was last year, with a newborn baby (William Erik) and sleepless nights.
"We have more of a routine now. She's kind of been hoping, too, that physically I would feel fine and play another year and postpone everything that comes with retirement and starting a new chapter in our lives. We've got pretty good control of what to do when I'm playing and how to handle me being away and whatnot, so she's been extremely supportive, too. That's makes me feel a little less guilty, I guess, about playing another year because I know how much time it takes away from family."
The NHL's current longest-serving captain, Alfredsson is the Senators' all-time leader in games played (1,131), goals (416), assists (666) and points (1,082). He also tops the franchise in playoff games played (111), goals (47), assists (43) and points (90).
Senators management was also hopeful Alfredsson would return to help mentor young Swedes Jakob Silfverberg and Mika Zibanejad, who could join the Ottawa lineup in the season ahead. His guidance is credited with having a major influence on Erik Karlsson, the 22-year-old blueliner who developed into a Norris Trophy winner last season.
"I think I've had the intention of playing (next season) from the beginning, but I had to go through the process to really know for sure. With my back problems ... I haven't really been able to work out as I would have liked for the last probably four years. With the surgery last summer, having to do a lot of rehab and I didn't get the proper training in. I didn't know where I stood physically and mentally. It took some time, but the training has been going well. I've really enjoyed it, so I'm really happy that I feel this way in the process of getting ready for another camp." - Daniel Alfredsson
"I'm very, very excited," said Senators general manager Bryan Murray. "We hoped for this all along but to get it confirmed, I think, is great for the franchise and great for the city. Certainly, I know it?s going to be great for our young players because he?s a leader and a mentor for a number of them. If they?ll follow his work ethic, we know we?ll be a competitive team.
"I?ve talked to Alfie a number of times and I had a feeling he was still excited about playing. He was looking forward to playing, but it wasn?t absolute until he basically told me (Monday) afternoon. It made my day, there?s no question about it."
Added Senators owner Eugene Melnyk: "Daniel is an exceptional captain whose commitment to his teammates and to the great city of Ottawa is second to none. Daniel expects a lot out of himself both on and off the ice, so I fully understand how important a decision this was for him and his family. I couldn?t be more pleased with the outcome and look forward to Daniel having a great year and adding to his long list of extraordinary achievements with our hockey club."
While Murray had a "Plan B" in place if Alfredsson didn't return, he's happy he didn't need to use it.
"What he brings to the room, what he brings to the work ethic and character of our team ... we weren?t going to be able to replace that," said Murray. "Maybe from a skill point of view, we could fill some of the goals, but I just think having him back is a huge improvement over anything I could have done."
A year ago at this time, Alfredsson was recovering from off-season surgery to repair a nerve issue in his back that he would later call career threatening. Not quite certain what to expect in 2011-12, the Senators captain produced 27 goals ? his highest total in four seasons ? and 59 points. In Game 7 against the Rangers, he was arguably the team's best player on the ice.
"I think I've had the intention of playing (next season) from the beginning, but I had to go through the process to really know for sure," said Alfredsson, who's been working out with his former Swedish club team, the Frolunda Indians, and a trainer (Peter Froberg) he shares with Karlsson. "With my back problems ... I haven't really been able to work out as I would have liked for the last probably four years.
"With the surgery last summer, having to do a lot of rehab and I didn't get the proper training in ... I didn't know where I stood physically and mentally. It took some time, but the training has been going well. I've really enjoyed it, so I'm really happy that I feel this way in the process of getting ready for another camp."
His determination in battling back from that injury made Alfredsson a finalist for the Bill Masterton Trophy, presented annually to the player best exhibiting perseverance and dedication to hockey. While he didn't win the award, Alfredsson did become the Senators' first winner of the King Clancy Trophy, which goes to the NHL player displaying leadership qualities on the ice and in the community.
Alfredsson, who turns 40 in December, was a sixth-round pick (133rd overall) by the Senators in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He earned the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in 1995-96.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Joth4Q55YEI&feature=related[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHbj53fZx2Y&feature=related[/youtube]
Senators captain makes it official, says he's returning to team for 2012-13 campaign
Daniel Alfredsson isn't ready just yet to say goodbye to the game he loves.
After taking three months to ponder his future, the Senators captain has decided he'll return to Ottawa this fall to play out the final season of a contract he signed in October 2008. It will be his 17th National Hockey League campaign in a Senators jersey.
"I'm excited to get ready for another season," the 39-year-old Alfredsson said from his hometown of Goteborg, Sweden, where he's spent more than a month vacationing with his family. "I've been training for about a month and a half and my body feels a lot further ahead of where it was last year at this point. I expect to come into camp fitter and stronger than I did last year."
When the Senators' 2011-12 season ended with a 2-1 setback at the hands of the New York Rangers in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarter-final series, Alfredsson said he needed time to determine whether he still had the fire to do the necessary off-season training to prepare himself for one more year.
Clearly, that answer is yes and it's a decision that also sits well with his wife, Bibbi, and his four sons, who Alfredsson says were leaning on him to keep playing.
"My kids have (had) me playing the whole time," Alfredsson said with a chuckle. "They've been bugging me and I think they would have been really disappointed if I didn't play. And my wife and I, we feel that our family situation will be easier this season coming up than it was last year, with a newborn baby (William Erik) and sleepless nights.
"We have more of a routine now. She's kind of been hoping, too, that physically I would feel fine and play another year and postpone everything that comes with retirement and starting a new chapter in our lives. We've got pretty good control of what to do when I'm playing and how to handle me being away and whatnot, so she's been extremely supportive, too. That's makes me feel a little less guilty, I guess, about playing another year because I know how much time it takes away from family."
The NHL's current longest-serving captain, Alfredsson is the Senators' all-time leader in games played (1,131), goals (416), assists (666) and points (1,082). He also tops the franchise in playoff games played (111), goals (47), assists (43) and points (90).
Senators management was also hopeful Alfredsson would return to help mentor young Swedes Jakob Silfverberg and Mika Zibanejad, who could join the Ottawa lineup in the season ahead. His guidance is credited with having a major influence on Erik Karlsson, the 22-year-old blueliner who developed into a Norris Trophy winner last season.
"I think I've had the intention of playing (next season) from the beginning, but I had to go through the process to really know for sure. With my back problems ... I haven't really been able to work out as I would have liked for the last probably four years. With the surgery last summer, having to do a lot of rehab and I didn't get the proper training in. I didn't know where I stood physically and mentally. It took some time, but the training has been going well. I've really enjoyed it, so I'm really happy that I feel this way in the process of getting ready for another camp." - Daniel Alfredsson
"I'm very, very excited," said Senators general manager Bryan Murray. "We hoped for this all along but to get it confirmed, I think, is great for the franchise and great for the city. Certainly, I know it?s going to be great for our young players because he?s a leader and a mentor for a number of them. If they?ll follow his work ethic, we know we?ll be a competitive team.
"I?ve talked to Alfie a number of times and I had a feeling he was still excited about playing. He was looking forward to playing, but it wasn?t absolute until he basically told me (Monday) afternoon. It made my day, there?s no question about it."
Added Senators owner Eugene Melnyk: "Daniel is an exceptional captain whose commitment to his teammates and to the great city of Ottawa is second to none. Daniel expects a lot out of himself both on and off the ice, so I fully understand how important a decision this was for him and his family. I couldn?t be more pleased with the outcome and look forward to Daniel having a great year and adding to his long list of extraordinary achievements with our hockey club."
While Murray had a "Plan B" in place if Alfredsson didn't return, he's happy he didn't need to use it.
"What he brings to the room, what he brings to the work ethic and character of our team ... we weren?t going to be able to replace that," said Murray. "Maybe from a skill point of view, we could fill some of the goals, but I just think having him back is a huge improvement over anything I could have done."
A year ago at this time, Alfredsson was recovering from off-season surgery to repair a nerve issue in his back that he would later call career threatening. Not quite certain what to expect in 2011-12, the Senators captain produced 27 goals ? his highest total in four seasons ? and 59 points. In Game 7 against the Rangers, he was arguably the team's best player on the ice.
"I think I've had the intention of playing (next season) from the beginning, but I had to go through the process to really know for sure," said Alfredsson, who's been working out with his former Swedish club team, the Frolunda Indians, and a trainer (Peter Froberg) he shares with Karlsson. "With my back problems ... I haven't really been able to work out as I would have liked for the last probably four years.
"With the surgery last summer, having to do a lot of rehab and I didn't get the proper training in ... I didn't know where I stood physically and mentally. It took some time, but the training has been going well. I've really enjoyed it, so I'm really happy that I feel this way in the process of getting ready for another camp."
His determination in battling back from that injury made Alfredsson a finalist for the Bill Masterton Trophy, presented annually to the player best exhibiting perseverance and dedication to hockey. While he didn't win the award, Alfredsson did become the Senators' first winner of the King Clancy Trophy, which goes to the NHL player displaying leadership qualities on the ice and in the community.
Alfredsson, who turns 40 in December, was a sixth-round pick (133rd overall) by the Senators in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He earned the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in 1995-96.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Joth4Q55YEI&feature=related[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHbj53fZx2Y&feature=related[/youtube]
Corn Flake
New member
I've never heard of this guy.
Corn Flake
New member
Madferret said:
Better than Tony Tanti?
Madferret
New member
Alfie does what Yashin wouldn't
Sens captain fulfills his contract ? and leadership role
Daniel Alfredsson always was a better, more honourable man than the captain he replaced.
He proved it again Tuesday, shooting down speculation that he was insistent on a raise and extending his existing deal in announcing his decision to return for a 17th season in a Senators jersey.
Alfredsson, the best player in franchise history, will accept just one million of owner Eugene Melnyk?s dollars in 2012-13, when (as of now) he?ll be the 12th highest-paid player on the team.
Jason Spezza will make eight times more money next season. Chris Neil will get twice as much. Heck, even defenceman Mike Lundin, who was signed as a free agent last month and has played just 241 nondescript games in the NHL, will collect $150,000 more than Alfredsson.
?It?s not something I?d like to change,? Alfredsson said from Sweden on a conference call with a number of NHL media members that was hosted by a moderator who had about the same kind of success rate (14.1) correctly pronouncing names as Ottawa?s No. 11 did scoring goals (27) on shots he took (191) last season.
?I did talk to Bryan a couple of weeks ago about maybe doing an extension for another year. We discussed it back and forth. (But) I signed a four-year deal and if you look at the average ... I think that?s the way you should look at it ... even though it progressively gets lower and lower, I think you look at the average. Even though I make $1 million next year, I made up for it maybe the first year.
?It?s a non-issue for me. I?m just happy I?ve come to this conclusion that I want to play again, and play at a high level.?
Alfredsson, you?ll remember, became captain of the Senators when they stripped the ?C? off Alexei Yashin?s chest 13 years ago. Yashin wasn?t much of a team guy. Already the Senators? highest-paid player, he made his third demand (in five years) that his contract be renegotiated, from a $3.6-million salary to something more in line with the league?s top centres, who were making $6-7 million.
When the Senators were silly enough to think he should honour the final year on his deal, Yashin asked for a trade. When the team denied that request, he refused to report until he was finally suspended for the season on Nov. 10. When he finally did return the following season, he found the ?C? on the guy who should have had it in the first place.
The sad irony of it all is that Yashin, who hasn?t been in the NHL since 2007, will get paid more to NOT play for the Islanders this season (not to mention the two after it, with a salary of $2,204,000 per) than Alfredsson will get when he?ll be one of the Senators? top three or four players again in ?12-13 and perhaps beyond.
?I don?t know if I?d say just a million dollars,? Alfredsson said, repeating part of a question with a chuckle. ?I?m good with the way the contract is now, yes.
?That?s never been a factor at all, that I would try to sign and get a big signing bonus this summer, to kind of make up for that. Bryan and I did talk about maybe doing an extension for the following year, but at the end of the day I just felt that I want to finish this contract. I didn?t want to have the pressure maybe to go through this again, with a year left on my contract, and then have to decide.
?I wanted a clean sheet. I think my decision will be a lot easier if I have to that, too. That?s probably the main reason why I?m just going to play this contract out.?
Alfredsson did suggest that maybe this won?t be his last season, that, with guys like Jaromir Jagr and Teemu Selanne still going strong, ?maybe it?s a trend? that guys over 40 will play on.
?I?m going to play this year, and obviously, when the season is over, I?m going to re-evaluate again, and see where I am,? he said. ?I?m not going to say this is my last year, because if I feel good and feel I can play, I?ll continue.
?I?m confident I can stay at that level, but that?s not my goal. My goal is to improve,? he added. ?My health is better than it?s been in a while. I think I can come into camp much better prepared than I was last year, which should help me. I should be able to be more consistent. I?m not looking to be close to where I was last year. I would like to improve and be better.?
Alfredsson, who is working out with his old Swedish team, the Frolunda Indians, as well as Erik Karlsson and ?track and field coach? Peter Froberg, says he plans on returning to Ottawa on Aug. 22.
?Hugo?s hockey starts on the 25th,? he said, referring to his eight-year-old son. ?We probably would have stayed a week or two longer, if it wasn?t for that. The kids come first. I still can?t believe his hockey starts three weeks before mine.?
The Senators, and their fans, are just glad dad is going to play another season.
Sens captain fulfills his contract ? and leadership role
Daniel Alfredsson always was a better, more honourable man than the captain he replaced.
He proved it again Tuesday, shooting down speculation that he was insistent on a raise and extending his existing deal in announcing his decision to return for a 17th season in a Senators jersey.
Alfredsson, the best player in franchise history, will accept just one million of owner Eugene Melnyk?s dollars in 2012-13, when (as of now) he?ll be the 12th highest-paid player on the team.
Jason Spezza will make eight times more money next season. Chris Neil will get twice as much. Heck, even defenceman Mike Lundin, who was signed as a free agent last month and has played just 241 nondescript games in the NHL, will collect $150,000 more than Alfredsson.
?It?s not something I?d like to change,? Alfredsson said from Sweden on a conference call with a number of NHL media members that was hosted by a moderator who had about the same kind of success rate (14.1) correctly pronouncing names as Ottawa?s No. 11 did scoring goals (27) on shots he took (191) last season.
?I did talk to Bryan a couple of weeks ago about maybe doing an extension for another year. We discussed it back and forth. (But) I signed a four-year deal and if you look at the average ... I think that?s the way you should look at it ... even though it progressively gets lower and lower, I think you look at the average. Even though I make $1 million next year, I made up for it maybe the first year.
?It?s a non-issue for me. I?m just happy I?ve come to this conclusion that I want to play again, and play at a high level.?
Alfredsson, you?ll remember, became captain of the Senators when they stripped the ?C? off Alexei Yashin?s chest 13 years ago. Yashin wasn?t much of a team guy. Already the Senators? highest-paid player, he made his third demand (in five years) that his contract be renegotiated, from a $3.6-million salary to something more in line with the league?s top centres, who were making $6-7 million.
When the Senators were silly enough to think he should honour the final year on his deal, Yashin asked for a trade. When the team denied that request, he refused to report until he was finally suspended for the season on Nov. 10. When he finally did return the following season, he found the ?C? on the guy who should have had it in the first place.
The sad irony of it all is that Yashin, who hasn?t been in the NHL since 2007, will get paid more to NOT play for the Islanders this season (not to mention the two after it, with a salary of $2,204,000 per) than Alfredsson will get when he?ll be one of the Senators? top three or four players again in ?12-13 and perhaps beyond.
?I don?t know if I?d say just a million dollars,? Alfredsson said, repeating part of a question with a chuckle. ?I?m good with the way the contract is now, yes.
?That?s never been a factor at all, that I would try to sign and get a big signing bonus this summer, to kind of make up for that. Bryan and I did talk about maybe doing an extension for the following year, but at the end of the day I just felt that I want to finish this contract. I didn?t want to have the pressure maybe to go through this again, with a year left on my contract, and then have to decide.
?I wanted a clean sheet. I think my decision will be a lot easier if I have to that, too. That?s probably the main reason why I?m just going to play this contract out.?
Alfredsson did suggest that maybe this won?t be his last season, that, with guys like Jaromir Jagr and Teemu Selanne still going strong, ?maybe it?s a trend? that guys over 40 will play on.
?I?m going to play this year, and obviously, when the season is over, I?m going to re-evaluate again, and see where I am,? he said. ?I?m not going to say this is my last year, because if I feel good and feel I can play, I?ll continue.
?I?m confident I can stay at that level, but that?s not my goal. My goal is to improve,? he added. ?My health is better than it?s been in a while. I think I can come into camp much better prepared than I was last year, which should help me. I should be able to be more consistent. I?m not looking to be close to where I was last year. I would like to improve and be better.?
Alfredsson, who is working out with his old Swedish team, the Frolunda Indians, as well as Erik Karlsson and ?track and field coach? Peter Froberg, says he plans on returning to Ottawa on Aug. 22.
?Hugo?s hockey starts on the 25th,? he said, referring to his eight-year-old son. ?We probably would have stayed a week or two longer, if it wasn?t for that. The kids come first. I still can?t believe his hockey starts three weeks before mine.?
The Senators, and their fans, are just glad dad is going to play another season.
Madferret
New member
No. 42: Ottawa Senators
Ultimate Standings 2012
Last year's rank: 82
Title track: 58
Ownership: 25
Coaching: 21
Players: 46
Fan relations: 32
Affordability: 64
Stadium experience: 93
Bang for the buck: 48
Finally some stability. After going through four coaches in four seasons -- and ranking 117th of 122 teams in coaching last year -- it appears the Senators may have found their man. Paul MacLean was a finalist for coach of the year honors in his first season at the helm and helped Ottawa nearly upset the top-seeded Rangers in the first round of the playoffs. Solidity makes for satisfied fans: The Senators vaulted to 21st overall in coaching and Eugene Melnyk was our fifth-ranked NHL owner. Cheap tickets (below league average), concessions (hot dogs, beer and soda are far cheaper than the competition's) and parking (39 percent less than NHL league average) didn't hurt either. Even when Ottawa was replacing its head coach seemingly every season, the Senators were a draw. The franchise has ranked in the top seven in attendance in five of the eight seasons since Melnyk bought the team in 2003. Don't expect that to change now that there's finally something to see in Ottawa.
Ultimate Standings 2012
Last year's rank: 82
Title track: 58
Ownership: 25
Coaching: 21
Players: 46
Fan relations: 32
Affordability: 64
Stadium experience: 93
Bang for the buck: 48
Finally some stability. After going through four coaches in four seasons -- and ranking 117th of 122 teams in coaching last year -- it appears the Senators may have found their man. Paul MacLean was a finalist for coach of the year honors in his first season at the helm and helped Ottawa nearly upset the top-seeded Rangers in the first round of the playoffs. Solidity makes for satisfied fans: The Senators vaulted to 21st overall in coaching and Eugene Melnyk was our fifth-ranked NHL owner. Cheap tickets (below league average), concessions (hot dogs, beer and soda are far cheaper than the competition's) and parking (39 percent less than NHL league average) didn't hurt either. Even when Ottawa was replacing its head coach seemingly every season, the Senators were a draw. The franchise has ranked in the top seven in attendance in five of the eight seasons since Melnyk bought the team in 2003. Don't expect that to change now that there's finally something to see in Ottawa.
Mack674
New member
Interesting article on Alfreddsson. Classy guy.
I loved the Yashin Alfreddsson comparison. Couldn't pick two more polar opposite guys.
I guess I'll forgiven him for that dirty hit on Tucker, way back when the Leafs still played playoff hockey. I can't remember if that was black and white tv in those days or not.
I loved the Yashin Alfreddsson comparison. Couldn't pick two more polar opposite guys.
I guess I'll forgiven him for that dirty hit on Tucker, way back when the Leafs still played playoff hockey. I can't remember if that was black and white tv in those days or not.
hockeyfan1
New member
Down memory lane... The Senators first captain in team history... Laurie Boschmann...
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/41876-Backchecking-Laurie-Boschmann.html
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/41876-Backchecking-Laurie-Boschmann.html
GhostofPotvin29
New member
I try not to post here unless it is bad news for Ottawa. Jared Cowen having season ending surgery for a tear in his labrum.