Swedish hockey legend Alfredsson calls it quits
Sweden's Daniel Alfredsson, who starred for 17 years with the NHL's Ottawa Senators, returned to his adopted Canadian home on Thursday to formally announce his retirement.
Gothenburg native Alfredsson, who spent the 2013-14 season with the Detroit Red Wings, confirmed that back trouble was forcing him to forego another season.
"Last year my body began to complain once more," Alfredsson said. "The old injuries and hard work to recover began again. I worked hard to play another year, (but) three weeks ago I decided to retire."
Alfredsson signed a one-day contract with the Senators and was set to skate with the team in Thursday night in warmups before the scheduled game against the New York Islanders.
"I am very happy to have the opportunity to retire as a Senator," the 42-year-old Alfredsson added. "The more I thought about it, the more I thought it was the right thing to do."
Alfredsson joined the Senators for the 1995-96 season and became the face of the club.
He was named the club's captain in October 1999 and served in that role until he departed for Detroit as a free agent in July 2013.
Alfredsson was the Calder Trophy winner as the league's top rookie in 1996 and helped the Senators to 14 playoff appearances during his tenure, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007, when they lost to Anaheim.
The Swede is the Senators' all-time leader with 1,178 games played, 426 goals, 682 assists and 1,108 points. He added 51 goals and 100 points in 121 playoff games for the club.
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Gothenburg native Alfredsson, who spent the 2013-14 season with the Detroit Red Wings, confirmed that back trouble was forcing him to forego another season.
"Last year my body began to complain once more," Alfredsson said. "The old injuries and hard work to recover began again. I worked hard to play another year, (but) three weeks ago I decided to retire."
Alfredsson signed a one-day contract with the Senators and was set to skate with the team in Thursday night in warmups before the scheduled game against the New York Islanders.
"I am very happy to have the opportunity to retire as a Senator," the 42-year-old Alfredsson added. "The more I thought about it, the more I thought it was the right thing to do."
Alfredsson joined the Senators for the 1995-96 season and became the face of the club.
He was named the club's captain in October 1999 and served in that role until he departed for Detroit as a free agent in July 2013.
Alfredsson was the Calder Trophy winner as the league's top rookie in 1996 and helped the Senators to 14 playoff appearances during his tenure, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007, when they lost to Anaheim.
The Swede is the Senators' all-time leader with 1,178 games played, 426 goals, 682 assists and 1,108 points. He added 51 goals and 100 points in 121 playoff games for the club.
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