One of the guys in the league it's hard to see in another jersey, maybe the hardest. But he doesn't deserve any crap from anybody, just because you've stayed with a team for 17 years doesn't make the 18th an automatic. Free agency is free agency.
Here's the best way to describe my feelings towards Alfie leaving us:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jrKO-wTCTo
More "home" games for Alfie!Its going to be awkward since Detroit will be in the same division as Ottawa.
Don't agree with you guys at all.
I recently did two comments in the "Alfredsson talk II" thread in the Senators forum.
I'm not sure if you guys really understand how big Alfredsson was in Ottawa??? The guy was a living legend, a half god and a role model to millions of people. Even bigger and more popular than Sundin and Salming in Toronto. So much bigger in Ottawa than he never, ever will become in Sweden. This strange decision changed it all though, in a second. Lots and lots of people will never ever understand, that's for sure.
It's like the King of Sweden would emigrate to Norway for the money or something like that, Alfredsson was huge.
http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=70339729&postcount=537
http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=70340057&postcount=540
He got jerked around by Ottawa management and got reminded that there are other options. The more he thought about it the more it made sense to try out a top end organisation like Detroit after being in a small market team for 17 years.
It makes perfect sense, the year in Detroit will give him perspective on his time in Ottawa and hopefully give him a shot at the cup. Detroit is a significantly better built team than Ottawa. Teams with internal/budget caps never wins Stanley cup.
A young team on the rise? That's what the Wings are. Lots of good, young players got valuable experience last season and will be ready to contribute more now. They also don't have the limitation of an internal cap.Detroit may have a slightly better chance in winning the cup next season but it wouldn't suprise me at all if Ottawa finish ahead of them. Ottawa is a young rising team, Detroit is not the same legendary team as it used to be.
Uh, they won't actually live in Detroit.and Detroit? Is this a better place for his family, no way. It wasn't a family decision, that's for sure. Detroit is something like St Louis, cities with huge problems and high crime rate.
I respect your points joe89 and Systemfel but I still can't understand his decision, we are all different and I'll have to respect Alfie for the person he is and I'll try to leave this subject now. ;-)
I did a typo, Alfie was Senators captain between 1999-2013, nothing else. ;-)
Hmmm personally I would never ever leave a hockey crazy Canadian city like Ottawa or Toronto having played there for 20 years, team captain and being one of the most popular guys in town and a role model to millions of people. Dreaming... ;-) The only thing which could change my mind would probably be because of family, nothing else. Alfredsson don't have and will never have the same kind of status and popularity in Sweden, never.
I just don't get it. Just thinking of all opportunities he had (blew?) in Ottawa. Perhaps being a part of Ottawa Senators management, coach, politics or what ever he is interested in.
Yes, for me, the decision is weird and strange considering Alfredssons former extremely high status and popularity i Ottawa. He was perhaps the most popular Swede in a single NHL team and city, all time. Forsberg was a better and more complete player, no single doubt, but hockey ain't the same in Denver as in a Canadian city, a huge difference.
Also, his children probably feels more Canadian than himself? Welcome to Detroit, Alfie. *sarcasm*
The world doesn't revolve around what you would have done and can understand so save yourself a lot of trouble and just accept that not all think the same.
Nobody would have jerked around with Alfredsson in Ottawa, his status is about 5 times higher than the entire management in Ottawa combined. If he would have threatened to leave for another team things would have happened, believe me. Alfredsson WANTED to leave, he was ready to leave and that what's he told his agent, I'm almost sure about that now.
Sacrificing his hockey god like status in Ottawa for a slightly better chance in winning the cup?
Two different versions/theories:
1. Alfredsson, the captain of Ottawa Senators for 4 years, no longer believing in his own team mates, thinking they are not good enough for winning the cup?
A good way of saying good bye and thank you?
2. Extremely rich and healthy after 20 years in Ottawa, now he wants to push every single dollar out of a new contract as a 40 year old, are you freaking kidding me?
A good way of saying good bye and thank you?
Detroit may have a slightly better chance in winning the cup next season but it wouldn't suprise me at all if Ottawa finish ahead of them. Ottawa is a young rising team, Detroit is not the same legendary team as it used to be. Personally I consider Detroit as a dark horse this season. Young and rising teams like Ottawa is always extremely hard to predict.
This doesn't impress me at all, that's for sure. I feel with all Ottawa Senators fans.
and Detroit? Is this a better place for his family, no way. It wasn't a family decision, that's for sure. Detroit is something like St Louis, cities with huge problems and high crime rate.