(UPDATE 5:15 PM)- While it’s certainly not the biggest news of the day, Bruce Garrioch has also mentioned that the Senators do not plan to qualify goaltender and RFA-to-be Matt O’Connor. Chris Driedger is also a restricted free agent and has seemingly surpassed O’Connor on the depth chart over the last couple years.
(UPDATE 5:06 PM)- This afternoon, the team announced that Erik Karlsson underwent surgery to repair torn tendons in his left foot. Karlsson underwent additional evaluation on his foot at the end of the playoffs and it was found that the damage was more extensive than they originally anticipated. The timeline for his recovery is being set at four months which should have him health and ready for the start of next season.
It’s an update that we all figured was coming but that still seems a little bit strange to read.
Chris Neil will not be returning to the Ottawa Senators.
According to Bruce Garrioch, Senators Management met with Neil at the end of the season and indicated that they were ready to move on.
During his season ending remarks, Neil made it clear that he wanted to continue his career. The latter part of the season and the playoffs made it equally clear that it was going to be difficult for him to find regular playing time with this team next year.
While both sides knew this was coming, it still had to be a tough conversation.
Chris Neil has played his entire NHL career with the Ottawa Senators and was a heart and soul player every step of the way.
Night in and night out, Neil carried out one of the most thankless jobs in pro sports and did it with a sort of professionalism that was rare for a player in that role. When the game evolved around him, Neil was able to change his game. He was able to adapt and continuously show there was a place for him on this team. Every year there would be a fresh batch of players there to push Neil down the depth chart and every year, Neil would would fight for and earn his spot on the team.
The players around him may have changed over the years but what never changed was his willingness to stick up for the guy sitting next to him.
At the age 37, the Senators called on Neil to fill that role one more time in this year’s playoffs. To provide leadership. To defend his teammates. To do the job he had done so well for more than 1000 games in Ottawa.
While his role on the ice has decreased over the years, his commitment to the organization and to the city never wavered. Chris and his wife Caitlin have become pillars in the Ottawa community, always going above and beyond to provide their time and commitment to local charities, most notably Roger’s House.
Now for the first time in 16 years, Neil is faced with the prospect of playing in another city.
Over the years, Neil has become a sort of polarizing player among Sens fans. But as his time in Ottawa comes to an end, I do hope we can all take the opportunity to appreciate a guy that gave absolutely everything he had to our team.
