Remember this guy? Most Senators fans don't.
Okay, well that's obviously not true. After spending 17 seasons with the Ottawa Senators, Daniel Alfredsson made the move this offseason to a city with over 50% illiteracy (I'm not kidding, that's a real statistic). I feel comfortable writing this article smearing the city, because the fact is, half of Detroit couldn't read this anyway and thus cannot be offended.
Alfie was the man in Ottawa. He was drafted by the Senators in 1994 and became captain in 1999. This offseason, he decided he was physically and mentally ready for one more season, but there would be a minor change. For the first time in his professional career, Alfie would be playing for a team other than the Senators. Last night Alfredsson played his former team at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, and the Senator's performance made Alfie's reason for leaving seem. . . fucking stupid.
Enough with the intro, let's get to the list. Here's why Alfie messed up.
1. Alfredsson said in his farewell press conference that the move was "selfish." He wanted a Stanley Cup, and the Senators just didn't have the pieces to be a cup winning team this year. Last year, the Sens made it to the second round without Spezza. Erik Karlsson missed most of the season with his achilles injury and was anything but himself in the playoffs. Kyle Turris was the top line center and half the team was inhaling their first breaths of NHL playoff air. Turris is a solid second line center, but certainly not the guy you wanted against Evgeni Malkin. This team far exceeded expectations last year, and at full health, they're going to be even better this season.
2. You'll still have to beat the Penguins.
As much as I hate to admit it, the Penguin's offense is loaded. Crosby is the best player in hockey when he's healthy, and if he's not healthy, they still have Evgeni Malkin and James Neal who are capable of leading an offense by themselves. Add in Kris Letang, who is one of the best offensive defensemen in the league and a great powerplay quarterback, and you have a recipe for a team that will nearly always be on the doorstep of the finals. Move wherever you'd like Alf, but you're still going to have to get through Pittsburgh to touch the cup.
3. You were a year away from being promoted to God in Ottawa.
Detroit is known for being able to woo veterans with cup dreams. In 2002, the Wings acquired Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille, and Dominik Hasek (all future hall-of-famers) and brought home a Stanley Cup. As appealing as the veteran Wings organization may be, Alfredsson could've been even more of a legend than he is anyway. Imagine, free Tim Horton's for life and free lift tickets to the toboggan hill. All that sounds good enough to me.
4. The Wings could have to go through Ottawa in its Cup chase.
There's certainly no guarantee here, but we can't rule out the possibility. IF the Wings and Sens meet in the playoffs, there's no good way for it to end for Alfie's reputation. If the Senators win the matchup, everyone will fault Alfie for not believing in the team he wore the C for. If the Wings win, Sens fans everywhere will wonder how the matchup would have ended with a little extra *oomph* that Alfie would've provided. Either way, it doesn't look good for Alfredsson, and he better cross his fingers that the two aren't pitted against each other in the playoffs.
5. Two of the four Senator's shirts I own are Alfredsson and Heatly shirts. Now what the hell am I supposed to wear? Alfie has to be as mad about that as I am.
Okay, well that's obviously not true. After spending 17 seasons with the Ottawa Senators, Daniel Alfredsson made the move this offseason to a city with over 50% illiteracy (I'm not kidding, that's a real statistic). I feel comfortable writing this article smearing the city, because the fact is, half of Detroit couldn't read this anyway and thus cannot be offended.
Alfie was the man in Ottawa. He was drafted by the Senators in 1994 and became captain in 1999. This offseason, he decided he was physically and mentally ready for one more season, but there would be a minor change. For the first time in his professional career, Alfie would be playing for a team other than the Senators. Last night Alfredsson played his former team at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, and the Senator's performance made Alfie's reason for leaving seem. . . fucking stupid.
Enough with the intro, let's get to the list. Here's why Alfie messed up.
1. Alfredsson said in his farewell press conference that the move was "selfish." He wanted a Stanley Cup, and the Senators just didn't have the pieces to be a cup winning team this year. Last year, the Sens made it to the second round without Spezza. Erik Karlsson missed most of the season with his achilles injury and was anything but himself in the playoffs. Kyle Turris was the top line center and half the team was inhaling their first breaths of NHL playoff air. Turris is a solid second line center, but certainly not the guy you wanted against Evgeni Malkin. This team far exceeded expectations last year, and at full health, they're going to be even better this season.
2. You'll still have to beat the Penguins.
As much as I hate to admit it, the Penguin's offense is loaded. Crosby is the best player in hockey when he's healthy, and if he's not healthy, they still have Evgeni Malkin and James Neal who are capable of leading an offense by themselves. Add in Kris Letang, who is one of the best offensive defensemen in the league and a great powerplay quarterback, and you have a recipe for a team that will nearly always be on the doorstep of the finals. Move wherever you'd like Alf, but you're still going to have to get through Pittsburgh to touch the cup.
3. You were a year away from being promoted to God in Ottawa.
Detroit is known for being able to woo veterans with cup dreams. In 2002, the Wings acquired Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille, and Dominik Hasek (all future hall-of-famers) and brought home a Stanley Cup. As appealing as the veteran Wings organization may be, Alfredsson could've been even more of a legend than he is anyway. Imagine, free Tim Horton's for life and free lift tickets to the toboggan hill. All that sounds good enough to me.
4. The Wings could have to go through Ottawa in its Cup chase.
There's certainly no guarantee here, but we can't rule out the possibility. IF the Wings and Sens meet in the playoffs, there's no good way for it to end for Alfie's reputation. If the Senators win the matchup, everyone will fault Alfie for not believing in the team he wore the C for. If the Wings win, Sens fans everywhere will wonder how the matchup would have ended with a little extra *oomph* that Alfie would've provided. Either way, it doesn't look good for Alfredsson, and he better cross his fingers that the two aren't pitted against each other in the playoffs.
5. Two of the four Senator's shirts I own are Alfredsson and Heatly shirts. Now what the hell am I supposed to wear? Alfie has to be as mad about that as I am.