Dust Off Your Alfie Jerseys, The Captain Is Coming Home

October 4, 2013; Raleigh, NC, USA; Detroit Red Wings forward

(11) reacts against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Center. The Red Wings won 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

When Daniel Alfredsson left Ottawa in the summer of 2013, Sens fans were full of emotions. Alfredsson has captained this team for 13 years, and had become a major player in Ottawa.

Now at 42 it sounds like Alfie’s career is coming to a close. The legendary swede will be best known for his time in Ottawa and the wonderful moments from 1995 – 2013. Whether it be mocking fellow countryman, Mats Sundin or scoring a game 5 OT winner against Buffalo; Daniel Alfredsson will retire as the greatest Ottawa Senator of all time.

With media reports springing up last week that Alfie could announce his retirement, Ottawa fans hopped right on the idea to forgive Alfredsson and accept him back in Ottawa.

And it is time to forgive him.

The report comes from Darren Dreger who suggests it is “not etched in stone” but that it looks as though Daniel Alfredsson will announce his retirement, in Ottawa, on Dec. 4th.

And that’s nice to see. It appears as though Daniel Alfredsson is doing this the right way, the classy way and leaving the league like he should.

The same thing happened with Mike Modano. When Modano dashed to Detroit for his last season, he was quick to return to Dallas and finish up his career where he started.

Now a member of the Hall of Fame, Modano is remembered for his days in Dallas and widely considered one of the greatest American born players of all time. Modano went the route of a one-day contract, and that’s still a possibility for Alfie.

Ottawa Sun beat reporter, Bruce Garrioch confirmed the reports from Dreger. Garrioch is pretty in tune when it comes to Senators news and has the scoop here.

Garrioch had mentioned on TV the other day that “no talks had taken place” between Alfredsson and the Senators camp. That may have changed when Alfredsson and Bryan Murray went for a drive before Ottawa’s game @ Detroit.

Daniel Alfredsson announcing his retirement in Ottawa is another turning of the page for the Senators. Erik Karlsson‘s relationship with Alfredsson is well known and the retirement could come as the passing of a torch from Ottawa’s former captain to their current.

UPDATE:

Via Senators.NHL.com — A nice tribute to Alfredsson. “I’m coming Home”

I fight for Bryan

Spotted on Detroit’s bench the other night was a sign behind Mike Babcock which read “I fight for Bryan”.

The sign was a nice gesture by Mike Babcock and the Red Wings organization. Bryan Murray continues to fight stage 4 colon cancer while acting as Senators GM. Our thoughts and well wishes continue to be with Bryan Murray.