Great news for Ottawa Senators’ fans as the team has announced that their Captain Daniel Alfredsson will return for the 2012-2013 NHL season.
“Daniel is an exceptional captain whose commitment to his teammates and to the great City of Ottawa is second to none,” owner Eugene Melnyk said in a team release. “Daniel expects a lot out of himself both on and off the ice so I fully understand how important a decision this was for him and his family. I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome and look forward to Daniel having a great year and adding to his long list of extraordinary achievements with our hockey club.”
Alfredsson, who is 39 years of age will play in his 17th NHL season. The Swede was drafted in 1994 in the sixth round. He has since accumulated 416 goals and 666 assists for 1,082 points in 1,131 games played. Throughout his career, Alfredsson has won a Calder Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the Year, King Clancy Memorial Trophy for Humanitarian of the Year and has won an Olympic Gold Medal. He has yet to win a Stanley Cup.
The Ottawa Senators, under new coaching of Paul MacLean went 41-31-10 last season, taking the 8th spot for the playoffs. The Senators’ post season was cut short however, losing to the New York Rangers in the first round in 7 games.
A good start for the new coaching team who has a good mix of young and old players. For the team to be successful again this year, they need another point productive season out of forward Milan Michalek, young defenseman Erik Karlsson to continue to develop into the top defenseman in the league, both veteran’s Jason Spezza and Alfredsson to stay healthy, and goalie Craig Anderson to continue to carry the weight of the team on his shoulders. A playoff spot is to be expected out of the team, from there though, you never know what can happen.
