Daniel Alfredsson appears to have made his decision. Or, rather, his back has made it for him.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the star forward would like to announce his retirement as soon as Monday, as aggravation with an injured disc in his back persist.
The Detroit Red Wings host the Ottawa Senators Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET at Joe Louis Arena, so the timing would be fitting.
Alfredsson, who turns 42 on Dec. 11, is an unrestricted free agent who was only interested in re-signing with the Red Wings. The veteran, who led Detroit in scoring last year, was skating with the club in September, but his training was derailed by his back problems.
The Wings had left the door open for Alfredsson to return, and the Swede still wants to win a Stanley Cup, but it’s been several weeks since he has laced up his skates.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported last month that Alfredsson would need to skate pain-free for two weeks straight in order to feel comfortable with a return. And TVA’s Louis Jean reported that a decision would come in November.
“I haven’t talked to him since the season started,” general manager Ken Holland told the Detroit Free Press on Nov. 4.
In 18 NHL seasons, Alfredsson has played 1,246 games, registering 444 goals and 1,157 points. He won Olympic gold with Sweden in 2006 and silver in 2014. In 2013, his final season with the Ottawa Senators, Alfredsson earned the Mark Messier Leadership Award.
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