Daniel Alfredsson was not immediately known for his foul play.
But once the emotions overflowed – and then he went after the icon Scott Niedermayer.
12 years later, the audience still hadn’t forgotten the incident.
Daniel Alfredsson’s incredible NHL career spanned 14 seasons. He is an Ottawa Senators icon, known for his leadership, goals and scoring. And not directly for his dirty tricks…
Forbid the move
Of course, Alfredsson always played with a real temperament and a huge winning skull, but he rarely dished out ugly tackles or steals, and he was generally considered a good guy. That’s why what happened during the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals was so incredibly surprising to every hockey lover in the world. There, the Senators were pitted against the Anaheim Ducks, and in game four the emotions overflowed for “Alfie”.
Anaheim won the first two games of the series, but the Senators won game three and had the chance to even the series at four games. They had a dream start in the fourth game, but lost both the game and the result in the second period, and Alfredsson was upset. As the seconds ticked down, and the period was largely over, Alfredsson drove over blue – and pulled off a rock-hard shot at the iconic defender Scott Niedermayer.
READ MORE: When Daniel Alfredsson did the forbidden thing against his own coach – he won the love of his teammates with four words
Was expanded 12(!) years later
The Anaheim players went berserk, and a great commotion broke out. The Ducks eventually won the game, and later also the Stanley Cup. Only many years later, when Alfredsson finished his career, did he reveal what really happened.
– It was such a moment when I only saw red. It was frustration and I saw it slip out of our hands. It is something I would have liked to have undone.
He also apologized.
– I said sorry after we lost. I always set the bar high for how the game should be played and how to handle situations. I crossed the line a few times in my career, and this was one such occasion.
Niedermayer seems to have taken it all in stride, but the Anaheim Ducks crowd did not. Twelve years after the incident, the defender had his shirt retired by the club. When a teammate told about the situation, and how well Niedermayer handled it, the entire crowd responded by booing – just because Alfredsson’s name was mentioned.
READ MORE: The truth behind the incredible picture when Daniel Alfredsson takes over the pub shirtless and a ping-pong rack(!)