Former first-overall pick Chris Phillips will become the third player in Ottawa Senators history to have his number retired.
Ottawa announced on Saturday that the former alternate captain’s No. 4 jersey will be raised to the rafters on Feb. 18, when the Senators host the Buffalo Sabres at Canadian Tire Centre.
“Chris Phillips personifies all the wonderful things about being an Ottawa Senator,” said Senators owner Eugene Melnyk. “I’m happy that generations of Senators fans both present and future will be able to learn and appreciate one of the greatest players and people in this team’s history.”
A Calgary native, the left-shooting defenceman played all 17 of his NHL seasons in Ottawa — from 1997 to 2015 — posting 71 goals and 288 points in 1179 games, including a run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2007, when the Senators lost the best-of-seven series to the Anaheim Ducks 4-1.
Known for his extensive charity work in the city, Phillips was also inducted to the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame earlier this year.
The 41-year-old announced his retirement from the NHL in 2016. He will join Frank Finnigan and Daniel Alfredsson as the only players in Senators history to have their numbers retired.
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