Detroit Sign Experience

My brain melted a little bit yesterday when I saw the news that Daniel Alfredsson had left the Ottawa Senators to move to the Detroit Red Wings. We've discussed on this here blog what the Gothenburg native would do when his contract came to an end. Although at the time the speculation was that he'd probably retire.

Of course as part of the Detroit faithful, I'm pleased with the signing, although there are echoes of Mike Modano's final NHL season.

While Modano lifted the Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars, Alfredsson has never lifted the cup and despite playing over 1000 games with the Sens, he's only been to the final once. 

Hence why he's made the move to the Joe instead of hanging up his skates for good. Alfredsson wants his shot at getting his name engraved on Lord Stanley's Cup. The 1 year deal is worth 5.5 million.

Like Daniel Alfredsson, Stephen Weiss has also spent his whole NHL career at a single club. The 30 year old has been at the Florida Panthers since he was drafted in 2001.

Weiss has signed up to a 5 year deal worth 24.5 million and with Valtteri Filppula on his way to Tampa bay, Weiss will make an ideal replacement.Coach Mike Babcock intends to him to center the second line, allowing Datsyuk and Zetterberg to line up together on the first.

Whatever the lines will be, the September training camp just got more interesting.