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Senators say the season is over for Daniel Alfredsson but he’ll be back next year

Daniel Alfredsson

It’s a lost season for the Ottawa Senators and for them having their captain Daniel Alfredsson miss as much time as he has this year with a back injury has been painful in a few ways. Painful in that their best player can’t help them on the ice and painful in that their captain isn’t there to lead the way for what’s turned out to be a very young team. The Senators being one of the worst teams in the NHL doesn’t help matters much either.

Today the Sens announced that Alfredsson would be shut down for the rest of the year. While Alfredsson is getting older and many around Ottawa are worried about Alfredsson perhaps hanging it up and retiring, it turns out that won’t be the case as Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun shares.

The Senators captain won’t attempt to come back from a back injury that has kept him out since Feb. 7. Instead, he’ll spend the next month trying to strengthen his back to avoid surgery.

But, despite rumours to the contrary, the 38-year-old Alfredsson does plan to return next season.

“The progress has been going pretty good,” said Alfredsson. “Skating has been what’s troubled me the most. I felt OK on the ice, but not enough to justify playing in a game. It’s been dragging on for a while, I expect to be back next year.”


Alfredsson coming back for another year is a great rallying point for the fans in Ottawa and for the 38 year-old right wing, helping the team mature around him couldn’t hurt too badly given just how young the team will be. That said, as the team is set up right now and for next season, the Senators on first glance don’t appear to be a threat at all for a Stanley Cup and for Alfredsson, who at one time in his career guaranteed a Cup for Ottawa, time is running out for him to fulfill that promise.

We’re sure the thought of playing one more time for a Cup in Ottawa would thrill him but would not doing it for the Senators be something he’d consider if things go poorly next season? You have to wonder if maybe the Sens management might look to help him out if such a situation arises next February as the trade deadline approaches.