By Ian Mendes
SPORTSNET.CA
New head coach Craig Hartsburg hasn't tipped his hand about potential line combinations for the Ottawa Senators this season but Daniel Alfredsson believes that he will be taken off the top line with Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley - at least to start the season.
"I have an idea that I don't think we are going to play together to start with," Alfredsson said Monday, following an informal skating session at the club's practice facility. "I think we are going to try and split up. That's the idea I got from Craig and we'll see how that plays out."
The idea of breaking up Ottawa's top line wsn't exactly news to Spezza, who says he expects the same thing as Alfredsson. The trio was split up in training camp last season by then head coach John Paddock - who quickly reunited them once the regular season started.
"Usually this time of year, the coach likes to have us separated," added Spezza. "We'll try different combinations and give everyone a chance to play with everybody. I imagine we won't start the season together and we'll just go from there."
The Alfredsson-Spezza-Heatley combination has been one of the most potent lines in the NHL over the past three seasons. But after the club struggled down the stretch and were swept in the playoffs last season, many people suggested a balanced offensive attack would be more beneficial for Ottawa.
It's believed that Alfredsson could see time with Mike Fisher at center to start training camp.
The Senators captain also addressed the issue of how the team collapsed at the end of last season. After reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in the 2007 and starting last season with a 15-2 record, the Senators faded rapidly from contention in the campaign's final weeks.
"Obviously it was a very frustrating year for everyone involved." admitted Alfredsson. "But I think having a longer summer and more time to prepare, I'm pretty sure we won't see the same thing again."
Alfredsson's 2007-08 season also came to a disappointing end from a personal standpoint, when he suffered a serious neck and knee injury after a hit from Toronto's Mark Bell in the last road game of the regular season. He appeared in the final two games of the playoff series against Pittsburgh, hoping to give his club an emotional boost while playing with the MCL injury to his knee.
The 34-year-old says his knee and neck have fully recovered and he doesn't anticipate any setbacks during training camp, which officially begins next week.
"I've been feeling good pretty much the whole summer," he said. "Probably four weeks after the season ended after I was done my rehab, I felt pretty comfortable. It's nice to get back out there now."
