Confirmed with Link: Chris Neil will not return next season

[operasen]

Uhh sad for me.

Really didn't want to see him in another jersey.

Best of luck Neiler!

Says it all.

He'll get a nice tribute when the time is right.

 

[Six Assets]

Murray would have given him a 2 year deal

 

[The Lewler]

a-ok with me.

This is a confidence builder in Dorion. No more legacy contracts

 

[NickLidstrom]

Wow. So out of that whole mid 2000s team, who would have thought that Phillips of all people would be the only player to play out his entire career with us.

 

[mat_sens]

Wonder if a team will offer him a contract. Neil has significantly slowed down and was just about a liability out there near the end.

I guess, there's nothing to lose in trying to see if there's interest out there.

 

[Sensinitis]

Yay!

Best of luck to Neiler.

BM woulda signed him to a one year K. GG dorion!

 

[Ouroboros]

Wonder if a team will offer him a contract.

Probably. Pro scouting seems pretty poor league wide, so I'm sure there is still a team or two out there that think they're getting the Chris Neil of 7 or 8 years ago.

Power move by Dorion. Wouldn't have happened under the previous regime.

 

[DuckedUpOnQuack]

Love the guy but I don't think he's going to get the type of deal he expects.

Not necessarily a bad idea to have him on a regular season roster playing very limited minutes on a powerhouse team however.

 

[Tuna99]

As sad as it is to see Neil go, it shows Dorion isn't going to be sentimental about his players. The old regime seemed to get caught up in keeping the wrong guys around and extending players that didn;t seem to fit into the long term success of the team. Hard for Dorion I'm sure, but good for him, we need to be ruthless with every pro contract and this is what it looks like.

 

[Pronto]

This is a sad day for me... but the right move. Actually, I find it pretty reassuring that Dorion is able to make the right decision and leave emotions aside. Lot of respect for Neil who gave it all for this team and if he feels he can still contribute, go for it... but not with the Sens. Respect!

 

[Fandlauer]

He'll probably sign with the Leafs and score the game winner that puts us out of the playoffs next year.

 

[Pronto]

He'll probably sign with the Leafs and score the game winner that puts us out of the playoffs next year.

Don't like your sense of humor but that's ok

 

[Sun God Nika]

He stopped playing nhl level hockey 4 years ago

 

[Pronto]

He stopped playing nhl level hockey 4 years ago

He's still pretty good on my PC version of NHL 2005

 

[aragorn]

I don't agree with any of you especially regarding what BM would have done, it's all conjecture. People put so much on the GM but PD & company were there during all those other contracts too that BM was responsible for. It's not a one man job but a consensus by a management team of coaches, scouts & management.

Neil's time has run out with this coach & the kind of player he wants on the roster & at 37 yrs old it will be tough for Neil to get another player's contract. I wonder if he will look into being a coach somewhere? Every player's time eventually comes to an end & with some it's a sad day & Chris Neil was great for this franchise & one of the best at his job. He will be missed.

 

[Sensinitis]

I don't agree with any of you especially regarding what BM would have done, it's all conjecture. People put so much on the GM but PD & company were there during all those other contracts too that BM was responsible for. It's not a one man job but a consensus by a management team of coaches, scouts & management

That's an incredibly naive thing to say.

 

[Stylizer1]

He's going to Montreal.

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

Maybe he wont get a contract hes happy with and he'll retire. I dont see much demand for a 5 min a night player

 

[Six Assets]

Last original senator since I started watching. Time flies.

 

[SanderSen]

End of an era. Great Senator, community member, good guy. This time comes for all players and is never easy, all the best.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Maybe he wont get a contract hes happy with and he'll retire. I dont see much demand for a 5 min a night player

Agreed. I really can't see a team signing him....especially if the cap stays flat.

It sucks for Neil, but he isn't the same player he was, and hasn't been for a long time.

 

[Cheapseats]

It's surreal right now for me... Wheh... the last of the Alfie era

 

[Cheapseats]

a-ok with me.

This is a confidence builder in Dorion. No more legacy contracts

He doesn't need this type of confidence. He's a big part of those legacy contracts and if he forgets that he looks to the left and then see's this Alfie guy next to him every game. Its a confidence builder in Melnyk maybe cause he doesn't know if the puck is rubber or stuffed with feathers..

 

[Shruggs Peterson]

For some reason I see Anaheim as one of the few teams that would welcome him onto their 4th line.

 

[L'Aveuglette]

He's going to Montreal.

If this was 2012, perhaps he does, but no chance of that happening in 2017.

I highly doubt he'll get another contract.