Alfie wants to return

OTTAWA -- Unless he's told otherwise, Daniel Alfredsson will be back as the captain of the Ottawa Senators next season.

As the players met with coach Bryan Murray for the final time yesterday at Scotiabank Place, Alfredsson said he wants to remain with the Senators and help lead them to a Stanley Cup victory.

While he has been ripped apart -- as has GM John Muckler -- in the media, by fans and on the talk shows since the Senators were eliminated from the playoffs Saturday by the Buffalo Sabres, Alfredsson stood up to his critics.

"I made a decision when I was an unrestricted free agent three years ago that I wanted to stay in Ottawa with this team," said Alfredsson. "We didn't do as well as we wanted in the playoffs and that's tough for everybody ... But I don't have any questions (about returning next season)."

Murray backed Alfredsson.

"I see Daniel Alfredsson, I see how he performed against Buffalo and he tried to get the job done and I see him getting ripped and I just don't think it's fair," said Murray.

The Senators would like to re-sign stalwart defencemen Zdeno Chara and Wade Redden, who will both become unrestricted free agents in July. Regardless of the blueliners' futures, the Senators will be making changes.

Said Murray: "I would just say to people to be careful what you wish for (as far as massive changes go). There are a lots of cities that have teams that aren't very good and don't make the playoffs every year."
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