As a fan base, we’ve had time to heal.
And after a few months, there are some fans that will suggest, they are completely over it. But tonight, those feelings will be put to the test as the Senators pay a visit to the former face of the franchise. After 1,178 regular season games and another 121 playoff games, all in an Ottawa Senators uniform, Daniel Alfredsson suits up in the colours of another, and takes on his former team for the first time.
In the history of the Ottawa Senators, there has never been an issue quite as polarizing as the departure of the beloved Captain.
And a lot of that has to do with some inconsistent story telling from both sides on exactly what went down this summer. The reality is, somewhere during negotiations Alfredsson felt disrespected by the organization he had given so much to and decided it was time for a new challenge.
No matter how angry you may have been at that decision, it doesn’t change what he meant to this team, this franchise and this city.
And while Alfredsson will dominate the talk leading up to this game, a match up against the new division rival Red Wings involves a whole lot more than containing Alfie. They have two of the game’s elite players in Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg and one of the best Coaches in the league in Mike Babcock.
The issues the Sens have had through the first eight games of the season will have to be cleaned up in a hurry if they want to have any chance in this one.
(UPDATE 12:36 PM)- Some interesting decisions from Paul MacLean ahead of tonight’s game including scratching defenceman Patrick Wiericoch. He joins Jean Gabriel Pageau and Matt Kassian in the press box. Craig Anderson starts in goal. Here is how the Sens are expected to line up.
Michalek-Spezza-Conacher
MacArthur-Turris-Ryan
Grant-Zibanejad-Condra
Greening-Smith-Neil
Methot-Karlsson
Cowen-Gryba
Phillips-Corvo
Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 PM with the game available on TSN.
