Alfie provides ‘incentive’
Re-signed Condra says Alfredsson’s remarks about pursuing Cup in Detroit will motivate Sens
After spending parts of three seasons killing penalties and defending leads alongside Daniel Alfredsson, Erik Condra expresses respect for the decision by the former Ottawa Senators captain to move on to the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent.
Condra, who lives outside Detroit, even offered up his condo if Alfredsson’s clan needs a place to stay during the 2013-14 season.
Yet, when it comes to Alfredsson’s suggestion that he left the Senators because the Red Wings had a better shot at winning the Stanley Cup, Condra begs to differ. He says those comments will serve as motivation next season.
“That’s (Alfredsson’s) opinion; he has been in the league long enough,” said Condra, who on Friday signed a new two-year, $2.5-million contract with the Senators, avoiding salary arbitration. “But it gives us a little bit of an incentive, I think.”
Condra is anxious to play against his Alfredsson and his “home team,” which is moving to the National Hockey League’s Eastern Conference next season.
“That’s a big signing for them. They got him and (centre Stephen) Weiss and they’re making a big push for the Cup,” Condra said during a media teleconference. “But I’m excited to go after Alfie a little bit.”
While few outsiders would label the re-signing of Condra as a “big signing”, the 26-yearold serves an invaluable role as the Senators’ top penalty killer. He’s also a player that coach Paul MacLean trusts with defending leads.
“We were one of the top teams on (the penalty kill), and he had the most minutes on our team, so that’s a big part of our game and his game,” assistant general manager Tim Murray said in an audio statement released by the team.
“We hope we can just keep helping him improve his offensive game and he can be around for awhile.”
Condra scored four goals
TIM MURRAY assistant general manager Ottawa Senators
and eight assists in 48 regular season games last season and led Senators forwards with 32 blocked shots. In 10 playoff games, Condra had one goal and six assists, fourth in team scoring, while on a line with Colin Greening and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
‘We were one of the top teams on (the penalty kill), and he had the most minutes ...’
The 26-year-old Condra has 18 goals, 30 assists and 76 penalty minutes in 155 regular-season games over three seasons and says he’s “excited” to be back with the Senators, believing he fits in well and he has earned the respect of coaches.
He’s also glad to have avoided arbitration, an exercise he says can sometimes leave “bad water in everyone’s mouth,” and understands why NHLers with big statistics earn the big-money deals.
“That’s how the league is, and the goal scorers can do things that not a lot of guys can do. With the salary cap, it pushes some guys back, but I’m happy with the contract.”
Condra has been busy since the Senators were eliminated in the second round of the NHL playoffs by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He took part in a threegame tour of Australia, showcasing hockey while also raising money for stopconcussions.com, an organization created by former NHL player Keith Primeau to draw attention to head injuries.