The Ottawa Senators and defenceman Chris Phillips have announced a press conference for tomorrow at noon to provide an update on his future.
And based on the speculation leading up to the announcement, it certainly sounds like the franchise’s all-time leader in games played his ready to announce his retirement from the National Hockey League.
After missing an entire season with a lingering back injury, it’s been clear for quite some time now that Phillips’ playing career was in jeopardy. Phillips worked hard to get back on the ice last season but after multiple set-backs, it became increasingly obvious that a comeback was going to be difficult.
And if there was any doubt, the last lap Phillips took after the final home game pretty much sealed it.
A first overall pick in the 1996 draft, Phillips has played his entire career in the Senators organization. 1179 games in the regular season and another 114 in the playoffs. That kind of longevity and durability is impressive in any professional sport but especially for a guy who played the physically demanding role of a “shutdown defenceman”.
You’d be hard pressed to find a guy more dedicated to this hockey team, this organization and this city. His presence will certainly be missed in that locker room but you’d hope the team finds a role for him on the Coaching staff or elsewhere in the organization.
Pierre Dorion and Bryan Murray will both be in attendance for tomorrow’s announcement.
