When the puck drops on the 2017-2018 NHL season the Ottawa Senators will be without a player that has been with them for 15 seasons. Chris Neil will not be with the Sens for the first time in a decade and a half.
It was believed for a long time that Chris Neil would retire as a member of the Ottawa Senators. He had played every game of his career with Ottawa which is a rare feet in and of itself. However, as an enforcer it’s even more of an anomaly. As a result of this assumption it was widely believed that Neil would retire at the end of last season. It had become apparent that there was no longer a spot for him in the lineup and management quickly confirmed that for him. However, Neil quickly made it clear that he wasn’t ready for his NHL career to end just yet.
With Neil determined to get another NHL contract it meant that he would not finish his career in Ottawa. He would have to go elsewhere. With the season approaching it looked as though he might not get a chance to continue his career. However, now rumours are surfacing that the Montreal Canadiens are showing interest.
With Monreal as a divisional rival it would certainly be strange to see Neil in a Habs jersey. After all the two teams have faced off in the regular season and playoffs countless times since Neil started playing. However, it may soon be a reality.
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Chris Neil’s agent confirmed that there was interest from the Monreal Canadiens camp. If this turns out to be true, Ottawa Senators fans may have to cheer against Chris Neil for the first time. If this were to happen it would be reminiscent of Daniel Alfredsson signing in Detroit. However, no matter what happens, Chris Neil’s place will always be in Ottawa.