When he signed his last contract with the Senators, it was a four-year deal that went from $7 million to $7 million to $4.5 million to $1 million. The final season lowered the salary-cap hit. He didn't expect to play it. Well, he played it, and because he played it, he played at far below market value.

He wanted a new contract that recognized what he had done, his value to the franchise and his value on the open market, even at his age. When agent J.P. Barry and Senators GM Bryan Murray talked money before free agency, Barry asked for $12 million over two years or $7 million for one, while Murray offered $4.5 million for one. Eventually Murray asked Barry to have Alfredsson name his price but received no response. Did Alfredsson feel taken for granted? Did he feel the Sens were taking advantage of him? Was he too proud to beg? He said he felt no resentment toward anyone, but he also said it was then he started thinking of leaving Ottawa for the first time.