For the last 14 NHL seasons, Chris Neil has been the resident tough guy for the Ottawa Senators.
973 regular season games in the red, black and gold. And another 93 games in the playoffs. He sits third all-time on the games played list, behind only Chris Phillips and Daniel Alfredsson. His 2459 penalty minutes are more than the next three guys on that list combined.
Hundreds of times he has dropped his gloves to give his team a spark, protect a teammate or just because he had to. It’s been a remarkable career with a longevity that is so rare for a guy that players the game the way he does. And while nobody is talking about it yet, he may be heading into his final season in the National Hockey League.
The role of the fighter has changed over time and fighting has decreased year to year, but Chris Neil has found a way to stay in the line up. He’s always played a high-energy style on that fourth line and his ability to play a style right on the line between physical and “dirty”.
And while he’s never going to be known for his offensive abilities, he has scored some big goals over the years.
His last contract, signed in late-February, is worth $1,500,000. It’s a reasonable deal for an everyday fourth liner but with Neil approaching 13th forward territory, there was plenty of debate over the move. Even if you fell into the camp that was against the deal, the reasons for signing it were obvious.
Chris Neil has been a loyal soldier and given absolutely everything he has over the course of his 14 year career. His impact in the room has been significant and his commitment to the organization and the city are rare in pro sports.
He was also able to sort of re-invent himself as a player. He lost a significant amount of weight last summer and looked a step quicker in 2015/2016. While his offensive contribution is limited, he’s proven that he can take a regular shift in a fourth line role.
At 37 years of age, he’s doing whatever it takes to stick around.
Obviously hitting the 1000 game mark, all in an Ottawa jersey, is an important milestone for Neil at this point in his career. But with young players like Nick Paul, Matt Puempel and Ryan Dzingel pushing for spots and younger veterans like Tom Pyatt and Mike Blunden knocking on the door, Neil has to be hearing footsteps.
In previous seasons, it was almost assumed that Neil would be a lock for that fourth line right wing spot. But with a whole new Coaching Staff in place heading into this season, Neil is going to have to earn his ice time. Just like everyone else.
One thing that’s for certain- Chris Neil isn’t giving up his spot without a fight.
