The Alfie on wanting to stay in Ottawa.

I'm really not sure how to feel about this. On one hand I'm glad he wants to stay but on the other I'd like a captain who's sole reason for playing is to obtain the Stanley Cup. These comments seem to be more about staying where he is because he likes it here and is comfortable here.

TSN.ca

"I have such strong ties here," he said. "I can't see myself, even though I would like to win a Stanley Cup, but not with another team."

Alfredsson even admitted that he's comfortable with the knowledge that he may end his career without ever winning a Stanley Cup.

"It's probably a likely situation with where I am," he said. "I would love to (win a Stanley Cup). I'm not totally ruling it out, but it might be tough with the direction we're going.

"I would love to win a Stanley Cup, but not by going to another team."

Not having spoke directly to him, but having spoke to a couple of other HOF players who never won, I can tell you that while never having won is a regret. In at least one players case, his biggest regret was spending the last years of his career moving from team to team trying to win.

He said the last years caused a lot of stress on his family because of all the moving he did, whether the family went too.

Maybe he realizes that only 1 team each year can win, and predicting that is very difficult. Is it worth putting his family through the stress of Dad not being home just to win. I believe that his family would not go with him should he move to another team. His wife and children are so entrenched in life here that I don't believe they would follow.

So in his mind, is it worth leaving for a small chance at winning something that ranks 2nd or 3rd in his list of hockey accomplishments.

Just some ramblings.

Older players with families value stability and family life over the Cup, he doesn't want to move his family for a shot at the Cup with some other team.

Same deal with Chris Philips.

Hoags wrote:Older players with families value stability and family life over the Cup, he doesn't want to move his family for a shot at the Cup with some other team.

Same deal with Chris Philips.

I agree. I don't think it necessarily affects one's competitive nature either. Alfie's proven he will fight hard through pain to try to win a cup. I don't think he'll be a negative influence in this light.

As for team loyalty... After playing for one team for so long I can understand why it might not feel the same winning the cup with another team.

He can still win one as an assistant coach

wprager wrote:He can still win one as an assistant coach

True, but it's not even close to being the same. I can only relate my experiences playing baseball, but playing for a championship at a high level and then coaching are not even in the same ball park (excuse the pun).

It would be nice to coach and win a championship, but if you're a former player there is still a hollow feeling inside that you never got it done when playing. That's a tough thing to deal with. In my case there was really only one option. There was no such thing as the world championships, and the Olympics didn't start having baseball as a sport until my career was basically done.

I can imagine if I had won an Olympic gold medal that the feeling of having to win a championship would have been diminished. Especially for me in baseball where I routinely believe the best players are not all playing in the MLB. Some certainly are, but Japan, China and the Carri bean countries certainly Cuba have players not on an MLB roster that are as good or better than most MLB teams.


All of this is really conjecture (is that even the right word to use..Rooney?) because the only person who can tell you why he wants to stay is Alfie and I may be the balls to ask him the next time I see him at the Sippy Cup Cafe, but I doubt it.

He goes to the Sippy Cup? My daughters want to switch to the Anata Dental clinic just so when they go for their regular checkup, when one is in the chair, the other can go to the Sippy Cup.

He doesn't live in Morgan's Grant, though.

Of course The Alfie wants to stay. He has another kid on the way as well.

The Sippy Cup Cafe is dirty and boring. My living room offers more excitement to my kid.

tim1_2 wrote:Of course The Alfie wants to stay. He has another kid on the way as well.

The Sippy Cup Cafe is dirty and boring. My living room offers more excitement to my kid.

Yeah but you can't say you went out to the Cafe if you stay in your living room.

Thanks for the heads up. My wife has been thinking about checking the place out with the little ones while still on Mat leave.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:Of course The Alfie wants to stay. He has another kid on the way as well.

The Sippy Cup Cafe is dirty and boring. My living room offers more excitement to my kid.

Yeah but you can't say you went out to the Cafe if you stay in your living room.

Thanks for the heads up. My wife has been thinking about checking the place out with the little ones while still on Mat leave.

My wife runs a home daycare, so we likely have more toys in our living room than the average family. But really, all the Cafe has is a little playset with a slide, a table and some kids chairs, and then a few random toys and books. Oh, they also have a big, dirty, broken train table. And they serve hippie-sandwiches that have stuff like alf-alfa sprouts and roasted red peppers.

tim1_2 wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:Of course The Alfie wants to stay. He has another kid on the way as well.

The Sippy Cup Cafe is dirty and boring. My living room offers more excitement to my kid.

Yeah but you can't say you went out to the Cafe if you stay in your living room.

Thanks for the heads up. My wife has been thinking about checking the place out with the little ones while still on Mat leave.

My wife runs a home daycare, so we likely have more toys in our living room than the average family. But really, all the Cafe has is a little playset with a slide, a table and some kids chairs, and then a few random toys and books. Oh, they also have a big, dirty, broken train table. And they serve hippie-sandwiches that have stuff like alf-alfa sprouts and roasted red peppers.

Haha...you crack me up.

You throw your first comment out and leave out the context of your wife running a home daycare.

I'm sure if the only reason you go to the cafe is to have a place for your kids to play then I get it. I don't, I go for the coffee and food. Sandwiches and other stuff are decent to good, and I guess if you wanted a cheese burger you could go stuff your face at Burger King.

To getting this post back on track as it was about Alfredsson and not a bloody cafe which someone has a thorn in his Donkey about....

Yes Alfie, Foligno, Shannon, and Gonchar all frequent the place...Alfie before practices and games, and Foligno is a regular there at one time on one day, like clockwork with his girl friend. Most people let them be, but there have been some who have sat and chatted with them and they don't seem to mind.

Anyway, I understand why ALfie isn't driven to leave...it's tough going somewhere else knowing your family isn't there with you. I've traveled enough in my life and current job having to leave my family behind for weeks at a time and it's not fun. I can't say for sure that they wouldn't go, but I've heard enough comments from him and some others that are friends of his that makes me believe Bibi and the kids would stay here.

Just retire already!

tim1_2 wrote:Of course The Alfie wants to stay. He has another kid on the way as well.

The Sippy Cup Cafe is dirty and boring. My living room offers more excitement to my kid.

Are you offering up your living room for my daughters to wait in? Is it walking distance from the dentist?

So Foligno goes there a lot eh? Hmmm...girlfriend pressuring him to have kids? Trial run to see what it would be like being surrounded by little ones?

wprager wrote:

tim1_2 wrote:Of course The Alfie wants to stay. He has another kid on the way as well.

The Sippy Cup Cafe is dirty and boring. My living room offers more excitement to my kid.

Are you offering up your living room for my daughters to wait in? Is it walking distance from the dentist?

Sure. I can perform dental work. I'm cheaper than "qualified" dentists as well.

Also, the food is better at my place. I make delicious Kraft Dinner (the secret is extra butter).