When it comes to leading by example, few have been
better at it than Daniel Alfredsson and Steve Yzerman
WAYNE SCANLAN
There was another captain a lot like Daniel Alfredsson. Small of stature, large of heart. Quietly went about the business of leading his team when it most needed leadership.
Year after year, he delivered outstanding seasons, but wasn’t considered worthy of the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player, not when the competition included names like Gretzky, Lemieux, Messier and Hasek.
Last week, the city of Ottawa recognized this retired hockey captain by inducting him into the local sports hall of fame, one of many honours to fall at his feet during and after the twilight of his playing career.
Steve Yzerman, a former superstar in the Nepean Raiders system, caused a mighty roar at Scotiabank Place when he dropped the puck for the Jan. 12 Detroit-Ottawa game, fêted in a style few “visiting” players will ever know.
And then Yzerman went back to quietly learning the business as a young hockey executive with the Red Wings while Alfredsson, the man who took part in that ceremonial faceoff conducted by Stevie Y, went back to his business of carrying a certain hockey team on his back.
Game after game, Alfredsson’s consistent effort, even with a mounting point total, is taken for granted. Sometimes a signature moment is required, like Thursday’s game by Alfredsson, to make us pause and reflect on his gentle greatness. Ottawa is so lucky to have this guy in the community, just as the Senators are fortunate to have him in their room, on their bench and, especially, on the ice.
When Alfredsson left after the first period of the Jan. 17 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, suffering from a hip flexor injury, he was terribly missed in Senators losses to Tampa Bay and Philadelphia. The team was already missing prolific scorer Dany Heatley with a shoulder injury.
Gamely, Alfredsson returned to the lineup against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, but it was obvious he wasn’t right physically, and he couldn’t do much in the 5-3 loss.
With the heat turned up in Tampa on Thursday, Alfredsson took over. He might as well have said, “Follow me, guys.”
The day before, owner Eugene Melnyk, general manager Bryan Murray and head coach John Paddock huddled to discuss Ottawa’s recent span of five losses in six games, three minds among many wondering what on Earth was going on with this talented team.
Thanks to Alfredsson’s historic seven-point night against the Lightning — three goals, four assists, one sheepish grin — the Senators and their fans can relax with peace of mind during the four-day all-star break. Except Alfredsson, of course. For him, it’s another work weekend, joining teammate Jason Spezza at the all-star festivities in Atlanta.
This is Alfredsson’s fifth all-star game appearance. Yzerman played in 10.
Murray, the Senators’ GM, was coach and GM of Yzerman and the Red Wings in the early 1990s. He sees similarities between Yzerman and Alfredsson.
“They have much the same characteristics,” Murray said yesterday. “Intense in the right way. Alfie is a little more open with teammates, but both demand effort and are very coachable.”
As to Yzerman’s altered image when he led the Red Wings to Stanley Cup championships in 1997, ‘98 and 2002, Murray said simply: “Winning provides recognition.” Fortunately, so does a spectacular individual season. With his clubrecord seven-point night, Alfredsson vaulted past a handful of players to take the lead in the NHL scoring race with 67 points.
Log onto nhl.com’s stats page and Alfredsson’s smiling visage is the first face you’ll see.
Gone is the face of the player that had been leading most of the season, Tampa Bay’s Vincent Lecavalier. Vinny had a close-up view of Alfredsson’s spree, looking on, stunned, as Alfredsson posted a 7-spot to move past him. Blanked in the 8-4 Ottawa victory, Lecavalier remained stuck at 66 points.
After the game, while Alfredsson played down the feat, his coached played it up.
“When it comes, you take it, because it doesn’t happen too often,” Alfredsson said, modestly.
Paddock, self-appointed chairman of the Alfie-for-Hart campaign, viewed it differently. The Senators’ head coach already had a strong case, but he wasn’t going to pass up on this opportunity to sound the praises of No. 11.
“Are you guys going to join me on the campaign trail or is it just me?” Paddock asked reporters.
Fact is, Paddock is preaching to the converted in most cases.
