It’s looking more and more likely Daniel Alfredsson will call it a career and retire at the age of 41.
Alfredsson, a free agent, has stopped skating at Joe Louis Arena where he’s been keeping in shape and preparing for a potential return.
Chris Johnston on Twitter: “Last week I was told the odds of Daniel Alfredsson returning were less than 50/50. The fact he has stopped skating is an ominous sign.”
“He was feeling pretty good, but was getting frustrated because he wasn’t getting over the hump,” Detroit GM Ken Holland told the Detroit Free Press. “He would feel good, push it and have a setback. He was frustrated because he was not able to get to the point where he wants to be at to tell me he wants to practice with us.”
Alfredsson spent 17 seasons with the Ottawa Senators before signing with the Red Wings as an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2013. Last year, Alfredsson scored 18 goals and 49 points in 68 games to lead Detroit in scoring and the team wanted to bring him back. However, he has been battling back problems that limited him to 68 games last season and forced him out of Game 3 of the playoff series against Boston.
Chris Johnston on Twitter: “The tricky part of Daniel Alfredsson’s back issues is they don’t bother him much day to day. But the rigours of a NHL season are different.”
In 18 NHL seasons, Alfredsson played 1,246 games, scoring 444 goals and 1,157 points. He won Olympic gold with Sweden in 2006 and silver in 2014. In 2013, Alfredsson earned the Mark Messier Leadership Award in his final season with Ottawa.
The Red Wings, meanwhile, are trying to extend their 23-year playoff streak with a roster in transition. So far, Detroit is off to a 1-1-0 start. They beat Boston 2-1 in their first game and lost to Anaheim 3-2 on Saturday.
