I’m coming home
I’m coming home
Tell the World I’m coming home
Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday
I know my kingdom awaits and they’ve forgiven my mistakes
I’m coming home, I’m coming home
Tell the World that I’m coming - Diddy - Coming Home
While I am certain that that song has deeper meaning, the words couldn't express more honestly what today is all about in the history of the Ottawa Senators franchise and the man who wore the Captain's C for longer than any Senator and that only 3 other men have worn for a longer period of time.
Daniel Alfredsson is coming home today, officially.
Yes, he will sign a one-day contract (and at least for today I will put aside my distaste for that ceremony) and he will skate in the pre-game warmup, and likely will take a ceremonial face-off before the puck drop.
But this signifies more than the retirement of a Deity in this city. It is the turning of a dark page in the franchise's history book, one that has a lot of dark pages that can't be flipped.
Daniel Alfredsson has his fingerprints on most, if not all, of the Senators greatest moments since he arrived in 1995 as a skinny 6th round draft pick that went on to win the first year-end trophy in the franchise's history, the 1996 Calder for rookie of the year.
Alfredsson almost single-handedly kept the Senators in Battle of Ontario in years where they were outplaying their provincial rival but when it mattered they couldn't get it done. From questionable hits (Tucker) leading to game winning goals, to mock-throwing of his stick, to being on the receiving end of a predatory hit from Mark Bell just before the 2008 playoffs. While the Leafs had an entire entourage of buffoonery (Tucker, Corson, McCabe, Domi, Joseph, Quinn) during the glory years of the rivalry, it was Alfredsson who from that point on, made the impact on Leafs nation to the point that he is their public enemy #1, and was still booed every time he touched the puck even to this day.
Alfredsson had his share of controversy over the years, and wasn't always thought of as a top leader, especially in the early days of his captaincy, to the (alleged) shooting of a puck at Scott Neidermayer during the 2007 finals to the infamous "probably not", but what he grew into during his time with the Senators was a man who was respected in the room, in the community and around the league. Jean Beliveau's passing yesterday brought about a flood of emotion and tributes, and I don't want to compare Alfredsson to Beliveau or put them in the same category, but he would stir the same type of emotion on a smaller level in this community.
Steve Warne of TSN1200 radio started a phenomenon one day with 2 words - "Praise Alfie" and that ballooned into the Church of Alfie, that has its own
Facebook page (created by me) that still has over 1,600 members, which you can still join. Membership in the group fell somewhat after Alfie left with a lot of bitter feelings, but the page is still open and you can still join if you wish.
This is a day that most thought wouldn't come so soon after the debacle of the summer of 2013, but it just goes to show that sometimes time can heal wounds. Through all of the mud-slinging and blame laying as to who was to blame for the messy break-up (both sides have to shoulder a lot of blame), the fact that this day is happening is definitely a healing of sorts, and although he will never skate another shift for the Senators, the fact that the hatchet is buried with Daniel Alfredsson can only be a good thing for the organization, the fans and the city.
WELCOME HOME ALFIE!
Oh yes, and there is a game tonight as the Senators host the Islanders in the second half of thier home and home, but not much has changed since Tuesday, and win or lose, the game itself is going to take a back-seat to #11 for one night only.
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