still young but Ive got a lot of experience tha | Forum
miaowang123
Feb 1 '18
DETROIT -- Daniel Alfredsson was the face of the Ottawa Senators franchise. Evan Boehm Jersey . Now his face isnt even among the five featured on signs welcoming Detroit Red Wings fans to Joe Louis Arena. Theres no longer a letter on his jersey or the responsibility that comes with it. Hes just another player, and he admits it has taken some getting used to. "Its mixed emotions," Alfredsson said Tuesday, the day before facing his former team for the first time since signing with the Red Wings as a free agent in July. "I miss a lot about Ottawa, theres no questions, at the rink and being the guy. But at the same time I also enjoy not being the guy and kind of worrying about myself a little bit more." Thats something he rarely got to do in 17 seasons with the Senators, 14 of which he spent as the captain. He was the de facto first-line right-winger and holds the Ottawa records for most games, goals, assists, points and much more. Alfredssons new team features a couple of other future Hall of Famers in captain Henrik Zetterberg and alternate Pavel Datsyuk. When the Red Wings lost in a shootout Monday to the San Jose Sharks, Alfredsson didnt have to serve as the team spokesman like he would have for the Senators. "I dont mind media at all, but its also nice to prepare every day through the ups and downs," he said. "I dont think I wouldve played as long as I did if I felt that was a burden for me. I cant say its never been." A veteran of almost 1,200 NHL games, Alfredsson earned instant respect from his new Red Wings teammates. The 40-year-old fit seamlessly into the leadership structure that was already in place. "Its not like hes stepping on anyones toes or anything like that," goaltender Jonas Gustavsson said. "He knows when to say something and he knows when to let other people take care of that." But it was his responsibility to move his wife and four children to Michigan. He expressed some trepidation about his family settling in to their new life but didnt express regrets about leaving the old one behind in order to prove himself to a new organization. "The way I looked at it at the time and still do today is its a huge challenge for myself, personally, both on and off the ice," Alfredsson said. "Its a big challenge for our family. I think I will look back at this down the road as something that was a stepping stone for me in my life." From a pure hockey perspective, Alfredsson also has a different job with the Red Wings. Coach Mike Babcock has moved him up and down the lineup throughout the first three weeks of the season, giving him plenty of different challenges along the way. Alfredsson recorded a goal and eight assists in his first 10 games, calling his own play "so-so." And while the Red Wings lean on him for offence, the presence of Zetterberg and Datsyuk means hes not counted on to do everything. "I think my role here is more Im going to do everything I can to make it feel like they dont have everything on their shoulders, and not the other way around that they should take something off me," Alfredsson said. "I think if I can stay healthy and play to my abilities I should be able to do that. I think thats important. We know how good they are, and if we can help out behind them, I think its going to make them even better." It has been a long time since anyone considered Alfredsson a complementary player. Former Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla and Jaromir Jagr slid into similar roles last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins, with varying degrees of success. Early this season, Alfredsson is fitting in smoothly in Detroit, perhaps in part because of his unassuming nature and the core that has been around and already won the Stanley Cup. "The personalities have to fit, the position has to fit, the belief in the system has to fit, and right now it looks like the marriage there is pretty good," said San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan, an assistant on the Red Wings 2008 Cup team. McLellan pointed to Dallas Drakes role in 2008 and Jamal Mayers with the Chicago Blackhawks as prior examples of veterans integrating well and contributing to a championship. What makes Alfredsson different is that, like Iginla and Jagr, he has been a star and is used to the good and bad that comes with the spotlight. That star power isnt going to waste with the Red Wings. "Hes done excellent work for us, and we just be happy to learn more from these guys like this," Datsyuk said. In Detroit, Alfredsson has joined a team with seven fellow Swedes: Zetterberg, Gustavsson, Niklas Kronwall, Johan Franzen, Mikael Samuelsson, Jonathan Ericsson and Joakim Andersson. "There are so many Swedes that hes played with, whether its been at the Olympics or world championship or international stage," forward Justin Abdelkader said. "He knows those guys, fellow countrymen. I think it helps right away." Though he played with all but Andersson for Team Sweden at some point, Alfredsson said he wasnt sure how much of a factor that was in his decision. Still, Babcock wondered if Alfredsson has had some second thoughts. "Obviously any time you change environment after that long its going to be not as comfortable as the old place," Babcock said. "But I think lifes about embracing change anyway." Alfredsson has certainly done that. He called moving on with the Red Wings another stepping stone and an opportunity to "experience new adventures." Babcock hopes this team can ensure taking the leap was worth it. "Its just a matter of time, but hes been excellent," Babcock said. "In the end, depending on how good we become, I think he has a chance to be real happy here." Markus Golden Jersey . With one week left in the regular season, Cornish - voted The Toughest Player To Bring Down - is a leading candidate for the CFLs Most Outstanding Player award. He has rushed for 1,799 yards and could break Willie Burdens club record for rushing yards in a single season with a 98-yard performance against the B. Rodney Gunter Jersey . The 27th-ranked Austrian underwent surgery on a torn tendon in October and needs more time to recover, the Austria Press Agency reports on Saturday.Ronnie OSullivan has told Judd Trump he must win the Betfred World Championship in the next three years or he may never get his hands on the trophy. Five-time champion OSullivan landed his first Crucible title at the age of 25 in 2001, at the ninth time of trying, before making it a regular habit.He considers 26-year-old Trump well equipped to mount a serious challenge for snookers premier silverware over the next 17 days in Sheffield. But OSullivan suspects the pressure will only increase if Trump, who was runner-up to John Higgins in 2011, misses out this year.Asked if Trump has what it takes, OSullivan said: Absolutely. Hes 26 and hes at the prime age now to push on, but if hes going to make it happen hes got to make it happen in the next two or three years. Trump won the China Open en route to the Crucible last year Once you go into your thirties and havent won the world title, and then theres a new batch of young players coming through from China, from here, there and everywhere, you can start to think that maybe I might not.The pressure gets more and more and sometimes its not about the best player who wins this tournament, its the guy who can hold himself together and play solid snooker.Its not always about playing brilliant match after brilliant match, its about steadying the ship sometimes and biding your time and pouncing. Stuart Bingham edged out Trump in last years semi-final While OSullivan begins against David Gilbert on Sunday, Bristol-born Trump must wait until Wednesday to tackle Liang Wenbo, the Chinese player who beat him at the UK Championship in December. Karlos Dansby Jersey. World No 5 Trump won the China Open at the start of April, just as he did before his run to his first Crucible final. He was a semi-finalist at the Crucible last year, losing to eventual champion Stuart Bingham, and his desire to take the title is immense. Liang Wenbo first up for Trump this year Ive got enough experience now, he said. Theres no reason anymore why I shouldnt be winning here. Im not too young, Its not come too early now, so theres no more excuses. Ive had my five or 10 years of growing up.Ronnie won it when he was 25, which is quite old for someone that good, so if I win it this year or next year Im still not far behind him and hes the greatest player ever.Im still young but Ive got a lot of experience that people my age shouldnt really have so I need to use that now. Also See: Photos Bet ￡5 Get ￡20 free Get Sky Sports Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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