Yes, Alfredsson earns the right to work where he wants after all he has done in Ottawa. But his timing for making this decision sucks. The Flames traded Jarome Iginla to Pittsburgh for a first-round pick and two college prospects at the deadline. It stands to figure Alfredsson would have fetched the Senators a similar return.

Instead, they get zip for a guy that has made about $70 million from the organization -- granted while giving plenty back -- in the last 18 years. It would have even been easier to stomach had Alfredsson not waited until late Thursday night to let the Senators know of his plans.


Murray even offered to trade Alfredsson to the team of his choice next December or January, if the Senators didn't look like they were going to take a run at the Cup and he wanted to go to contender.

"Alfie said, 'Well, Bryan just think of me as retiring. If I retired you wouldn't have got anything for me. I'm just going to another team.' I said, 'But Alfie you don't retire, you're going to play in our league and dammit in our division.' "