Ottawa's Ace: Daniel Alfredsson

Ottawa's Ace: Daniel Alfredsson
By Michael Dell, editor-in-chief

The Ottawa Senators shocked the world by making the playoffs this season. Alexei Yashin quit whining and resumed scoring. Alexandre Daigle finally began delivering on his enormous potential and became a game-breaker. Steve Duchesne provided veteran leadership to an overachieving, no-name defense. And journeyman goaltender Ron Tugnutt elevated his game down the stretch to give the club the steady goaltending it never had in the past.
Yet all along the team's best player just quietly went about performing at a high level from day one. The most underrated person in the game today, he never gets the attention or respect he deserves. Perhaps it's that he plays in Ottawa and often gets overlooked since he doesn't skate for a league powerhouse. But now that he's helped lead his team to the playoffs, the NHL and fans around the world will have to sit up and take notice. This player is, of course, Daniel Alfredsson.
Drafted by Ottawa in the sixth round (133rd overall) in 1994, the 5'11, 190-pound Swedish right winger showed up at training camp with few believing he'd be able to crack the opening night roster. However, it wasn't long before Alfredsson turned the skeptics into believers with his solid two-way play and exceptional offensive skills. When the puck dropped on the 1995- 96 season, Alfredsson was a Senator.
His rookie season was one of impressive feats. He started out strong and was chosen to represent the Senators at the All-Star game, even competing in the hardest shot and fastest skater competitions. There was no slide over the second half, as Alfredsson ended the year as the club's leading scorer with 26 goals and 61 points. He even became Ottawa's first ever post- season award winner, claiming the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie.
Alfredsson kept on trucking this season, making his second straight All-Star appearance and finishing just four points behind Yashin in club scoring with 24 goals and 71 points, despite fighting through a hip pointer that cost him six games. He led the team in assists (47) and power-play goals (11), while also being tops among all Senator regulars in plus-minus (+5).
So why is Alfredsson so damn special? Well, he can just do it all. He has every weapon in his offensive arsenal: dynamic straight-ahead speed, the agility to change directions quickly, a lethal wrist shot, a heavy slapper, and hands soft enough to carve up even the tightest of defenses with his stickhandling and passing.
What really separates Alfredsson from the pack is his intelligence. A lot of players in the league have skills, but few know how to utilize them as well. When he has the puck on his stick, the entire ice is Alfredsson's canvas. He's aware of all those around him and makes the kind of plays that most can hardly imagine, let alone accomplish. He'll put fear in hearts of defensemen by using his explosive stride to bust wide down the wing for a scoring chance. Then the very next shift he'll back them up with his speed before curling inside the stripe and finding teammates coming late on the play with a crafty pass. Hey, it's easy when you know how...
Alfredsson also uses his smarts to protect the puck. That just doesn't refer to warding off defenders with body positioning, it also means his general approach to offense. He seldom puts the puck in jeopardy of a turnover. He doesn't force the issue. If a play isn't there, he recognizes that fact and moves to the second option, even if it means just a simple dump to the corner. Not surprisingly, this intelligence makes Alfredsson a force defensively, as well.
Still, all things considered, the best part of Alfredsson's game may be his willingness to work the boards. The 24-year-old Swede is tremendous along the wall, digging tirelessly to free up pucks and being more than eager to initiate physical contact.
His game just doesn't have any weaknesses. Fellow countryman Peter Forsberg is undoubtedly the best overall player in the game today, but Alfredsson isn't very far behind. The duo skated on the same line for Team Sweden during the recent World Cup and put on a clinic in puck possession and general two-way play. Forsberg is slightly larger than Alfredsson and is a big-time hitter. Otherwise, the two are very comparable. Forsberg's magical hands would give him the advantage in passing and stickhandling, but Alfredsson is the better shooter and has a slight edge in speed. Regardless, finishing second to Forsberg is hardly an embarrassment.
It might sound strong to compare Alfredsson to Forsberg, but such comparisons will soon become routine. He's just that good. And he isn't about to let the spotlight of the post-season pass him by. Alfredsson is Ottawa's leading scorer in the club's first- round series with the Buffalo Sabres, bagging two goals and four points in the opening three contests.
The Ottawa Senators may not advance deep into the playoffs, they may not even get past the first round. But this season has been a swell hint of things to come. And leading Ottawa's charge into that bright future will be Daniel Alfredsson... the best-kept secret in hockey.