Alfie re-ups in Ottawa
Daniel Alfredsson re-signed with Ottawa today to a cap-friendly deal worth $5.5 million a year over the next four. When the contract expires, he will be 39 years old.
As reported first by Sun Media this morning, the Senators have called a 12:30 p.m. press conference today at the BankAtlantic Center to announce the club’s captain has signed a four-year, $22 million deal.
Senators owner Eugene Melnyk is flying in front his ranch in Ocala, Fla. to participate in the press conference with GM Bryan Murray and Alfredsson. Getting him signed is a huge relief for the club because he had the ability to go to unrestricted free agency next season.
This is a very good thing for the Senators in theory. They get to keep their franchise player for below market value (if you think Alfie couldn’t get $6.5 from someone, you’re crazy) in favor of keeping the band together. Whether or not said band is capable of winning anything is up for debate, but it at least puts the Sens in a position to re-sign some guys like Mike Fisher and Antoine Vermette or the entire Sens D corps save for Chris Phillips, whose contracts are up in the next two years, if they’re so inclined.
But the contract will also allegedly contain the dreaded “no-movement clause” which, ehh, it’s not so good for the team. Now, regardless of whether or not he’s earning his $5.5 million in three years, he’s going to be making it in Ottawa until he’s 39. Even if they could move him for something that helps the team long-term, Alfie probably wouldn’t want to go, which isn’t helping anyone but Alfie.
