So with my first actual post on something about hockey and not this blog, I'm going to talk about Daniel Alfredsson, and his decision to sign a contract elsewhere, instead of staying loyal to his hometown fans.
The question for all Senators fans leading into this summer was if Alfredsson was going to retire or not. His production fizzled this year, and his team had troubles from the start with injuries, but he looked like a hungry player and a good leader to the troubled team, and it payed off. He lead the team into the playoffs, and with healthy bodies in the lineup, were able to beat Montreal quite handily. But they were no match for the Penguins in the next round, and were left short of a cinderella run of sorts.
This isn't a good way to end a career, but staying around past your time is asking for trouble. Fortunately, Alfredsson shown that he has some gas left in the tank, and I wasn't surprised that he decided to come back.
I am surprised, however, that he didn't continue his career with Ottawa.
That really was a shocker. The only team he's known and played for, and just on the verge of becoming a contender. What gives? Well, like Jarome Iginla, he wants a chance at the Stanley Cup. Can you blame him? He's been through some really crap teams in Ottawa, and would love to feel victorious at least once in his career, while he has the chance. Who doesn't? But the timing struck me odd. Ottawa looks to be a contending team next year, and Detroit is always a sure hand in the season, but has struggled in the playoffs lately. So it "appears" he's not improving his chances any, and losing tons of fans along the way.
But all in all, I think this is a win-win-win for all parties involved. Lets start with Alfredsson.
As far as player personnel goes, Alfredsson isn't tied to too many players in Ottawa, besides maybe Spezza. Not saying he's a bad teammate, I'm sure everyone loves his leadership and style of play, and he'll miss and be missed by his old teammates. But he gets the chance to play alongside Swedish countrymen Henrik Zetterberg. I see the two of them gelling very well and making a solid 1-2 punch in the Detroit line up. Plus, as much as the fans have been loyal to Alfie, it's really his choice in where he goes. And he owes the Senator fans nothing. As mentioned before, he played through some pretty awful teams in Ottawa, and seen the revolving door lineup go on and on for most of his tenure there. But he stayed, played his heart out, contributed to the community and gave Ottawa a leader on and off the ice. He's done all his fans asked him too and more, besides win a cup, and he doesn't feel he has enough years left to do it with the Ottawa team they have now. Is this move selfish? Absolutely. But he's earned the chance to do what he wants with his career, and it could be a Cup-clinching move.
Detroit has been a team struggling to find its identity lately. The reputations of being yearly cup contenders has vanished, and the team is on the backs of 3 players, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Howard. The core depth that Detroit was blessed with for so long has disappeared. Teams can control the 2 aforementioned players, and Detroit is left with no come back, until now. Both Alfredsson and Weiss can contribute to the attack of the Red Wings, both directly, and indirectly by freeing up Zetterberg and Datsyuk, giving them more space to move and opportunity to score. Combine this magnificent foursome with the youth movement Detroit is witnessing in Grand Rapids, and you might see a perfect storm of depth play into the Red Wing lineup this fall. Between young guns like Nyquist and Tatar, bruisers like Bertuzzi and Tootoo, the scoring touch and the play of Howard, there's no reason for me to believe that Detroit can't be a cup contender in 2013-14, right in Alfredsson's playing window.
But what about Ottawa? To my belief, I think they're actually BETTER OFF with Alfredsson gone. Under the assumption of course that without Alfredsson leaving, they wouldn't get Bobby Ryan. Not saying Ryan replaces Alfredsson, heavens no. With Alfredsson, they lost a quality leader, who is irreplaceable in this era. But they do replace age with youth. Bobby Ryan is a young star-to-be, with slightly better stats than Alfie last year. His play also fits in nicely with the Ottawa system, and Ottawa didn't sacrifice too many of their valuable assets to get him (although I am very sad to see Silfverberg leave, he was a hell of a player to watch). The core of the team is still mostly intact, and many of the young stars are gunning for a good year. So if this team can stay healthy, and fly under the leadership of (I assume next captain) Spezza, then I think Ottawa will be a very tough team to play against in the next few years.
But if Ottawa was going to seek to get a young RW to replace Alfredsson after he retires/signs with another team, why would it be better now? Because of the lockout and reducing salary cap, this is the free agent period for the ages. Never has so many big names been available, and cap space being so precious. In any other given year, Bobby Ryan would probably cost Ottawa (or anyone) more to get then now, when the market is full of players and demand for one specific player is low. Next year, to get a player such as Ryan, Ottawa would 100% have to give up a piece of their core to get him, or settle with a weaker player at a higher cap hit. Now was the time to replace Alfie, even though he did that all himself.
So at the end of the day, the city of Ottawa and the fans are the only ones losing out on this deal. But instead of lynching their former captain, they should celebrate what he's done for the organization and pulled them through. Then clue in that he's a division rival, then boo him as much as they please. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful rivalry. Make room for the octopus, Ottawa.
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