It’s hard to imagine Daniel Alfredsson playing for anyone but the Ottawa Senators, but it sounds like the Bruins are going to at least look into seeing if Alfredsson would like to play for another team.
The 40-year-old informed the Senators last week that he would be returning for the 2013-14 season. However, Alfredsson is set to become an unrestricted free agent on Friday when free agency begins. When that happens, he’d be free to sign elsewhere, a notion that terrifies Senators fans everywhere. One potential landing spot? Boston.
ESPN.com’s Pierre LeBrun and the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch both reported Wednesday that Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli has interest in Alfredsson. According to the reports (both via Twitter), the B’s reached out to Alfredsson’s camp already.
Chiarelli, who conducted a pre-free agency conference call with reporters Wednesday morning, wouldn’t comment directly when asked about any potential interest in Alfredsson. The Bruins’ interest in Alfredsson certainly makes sense. They have a hole on the wing now with the departure of right winger Nathan Horton, and Alfredsson could fill that void. Chiarelli and Alfredsson are also familiar from Chiarelli’s days in Ottawa. Or, at the very least, the Bruins could just be looking to drive up Alfredsson’s price before he eventually re-signs with a division rival.
If he does re-sign with the Sens, it would mark his 18th season with the club, a team he’s captained for 14 years. Alfredsson recently won the Mark Messier Leadership Award as well.
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