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Top Five ‘What-Ifs’ in Ottawa Senators History

By Joe Hanniman

BUFFALO, NY - FEBRUARY 4: Dominik Hasek #39 of the Ottawa Senators looks on against the Buffalo Sabres on February 4, 2006 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres won 2-1 in a shootout. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - FEBRUARY 4: Dominik Hasek #39 of the Ottawa Senators looks on against the Buffalo Sabres on February 4, 2006 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres won 2-1 in a shootout. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – FEBRUARY 12: Peter Forsberg #21 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Nashville Predators on February 12, 2011 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – FEBRUARY 12: Peter Forsberg #21 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Nashville Predators on February 12, 2011 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

#5: Peter Forsberg for Alexandre Daigle

With the first overall selection in the 1993 NHL draft, the Ottawa Senators were poised to select the next French-Canadian superstar, Alexandre Daigle.

1993-1994: Center Alexandre Daigle of the Ottawa Senators. Mandatory Credit: Robert Laberge /Allsport
1993-1994: Center Alexandre Daigle of the Ottawa Senators. Mandatory Credit: Robert Laberge /Allsport /

Daigle was considered a can’t-miss prospect at the time of the draft so it was no surprise that he walked out of the building as an Ottawa Senator. As it turns out, Daigle was very much a can-miss prospect, never scoring more than 51 points in a season during his career. This is not a terrible point total, but it is not what is expected of a franchise-altering number one pick.

Recently, I have started to see discussion and speculation that another Canadian team made an offer for the first-overall pick from the Ottawa Senators. This team was the Quebec Nordiques.

The Quebec Nordiques were in a state of financial turmoil during the early 1990s. It makes sense that the Quebec Nordiques, looking to increase revenues, would target the next French-Canadian superstar.

The rumour speculates that the Quebec Nordiques offered the Ottawa Senators a package deal that included Peter Forsberg, for the right to draft Alexandre Daigle.

I am not certain this deal would have turned the early 1990’s Ottawa Senators into an immediate contender, as those teams had a lot of issues. However, I do believe that the late 90’s teams that included a young Daniel Alfredsson and Alexei Yashin would have benefited tremendously from the addition of Peter Forsberg. Forsberg also had 106 points in the 2002/2003 season that saw the Senators finish as Presidents’ trophy winners.

What-if the Ottawa Senators pulled the trigger on this deal?

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