Daniel Alfredsson leaving Ottawa for Detroit Red Wings
Ottawa Senators get Clarke MacArthur, Bobby Ryan
The Detroit Red Wings have confirmed their newest signing, former Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson.
Alfredsson signed a one-year contract and he joins numerous Swedish players including Henrik Zetterberg, Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson.
Detroit will be in the same division as Ottawa this upcoming season thanks to the NHL's realignment.
It was a surprising move after the Senators said Thursday they were "confident" the 40-year-old Alfredsson would resign.
Alfredsson played 17 seasons with the Senators, including the last 14 as the team's captain. That made him the longest-serving captain in the NHL.
'All about trying to get the Stanley Cup'
Alfredsson has also been a community leader and was involved with many charities during his time in Ottawa, including the Boys and Girls Club and the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre.
In a telephone news conference Friday afternoon, Alfredsson said he's staying committed to local charities he's been working with.
Alfredsson also said his whole family will be moving to Detroit.
"I'm not worried about my legacy," he said. "I expect there will be resentment and anger from fans as I think there definitely should be. I thought that question through as well. I have my favourite sports teams too and if something happens with a player that I don't like, it doesn't benefit my team, I don't like it.
"But I know what I've done in Ottawa. I gave it everything I've had throughout my career and have so many people to thank … This is the decision I make for myself, not for anybody else, and it's all about trying to get the Stanley Cup."
Sens GM calls talk with Alfie 'devastating, disappointing'
In a televised news conference, Senators general manager Bryan Murray said he only realized something was wrong when Alfredsson called him at his cottage on Thursday night.
"It was for me a devastating conversation, a disappointing one, hard to swallow like it is for a lot of people, but I understand a veteran player that hasn't won and wants to win and sees a better opportunity," he said.
"I hope our fans understand that this is what happens sometimes."
The news came as a shock to many, as you can see in some of the reaction we've compiled below.