At nearly 42-years-old, it appears as if Daniel Alfredsson is preparing to hang up his skates and call it a career.
Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported that sources have confirmed that Alfredsson will not play this season and likely retire as a result of an injured disc that has been causing discomfort through the wear and tear of game action.
A sixth-round draft pick of the Ottawa Senators, Alfredsson spent 17 seasons with the club that drafted him—14 of whch were spent as captain of the team. After a lengthy contract dispute last year, Alfredsson signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings with hopes of winning a Stanley Cup. The team subsequently lost to the Boston Bruins in the first round of last year’s playoffs, bringing much speculation as to the future of Alfredsson.
In the time leading up to the 2014-15 season, Detroit let Alfredsson know that a roster spot was available for him should he decide to return. However, that return became questionable when Alfredsson suffered set-backs during his off-season training. He has not played a game this season.
Alfredsson remains one of the most respected leaders in the game. He amassed 444 goals and 713 assists for a total of 1,157 points in 1,246 NHL games.
It’s been rumored that Alfredsson will officially make his retirement announcement on Monday when the Red Wings host the Ottawa Senators—the only two teams Alfredsson has played for in the NHL.
