The ability to carry his team like no other

If you're a frequent reader of this blog, then you'll know who I'm talking about. Since I launched this site, I think I've made it pretty evident that I'm avid supporter of Daniel Alfredsson. He put his heart on the line during Ottawa's magical run to the Cup last year. But this season has brought a variety of challenges to the Ottawa Senators. Well okay, maybe not the first 15 games of the season when they were unbeatable. But, to go unbeatable, you need your goaltender to be above average (something that's been lacking). You also need players to pick up the slack when others are faltering. There have been stretches where the Senators have been nothing short of awful. Case in point: a 7-game skid in November and the first few weeks of the new years have definitely shown their vulnerabilities. Throughout this time, there's been one player who has single handedly carried this team. He goes by the name of Alfie, and he's a living legend in the city of Ottawa.

Remember when he put the team on his back during last year's post-season? I do. And if you're a hater or you simply just forget (shame on you), the Sens' 8-4 beat down in Tampa tonight is a prime example of how good he really is. A 7-point night to propel himself up from 7th to 1st in league scoring with 67 points over Vinny Lecavalier's 66. Keep in mind that Alfie's been out of the lineup with injuries a few times this year. But even with the firepower of Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley, the Sens are nothing without their captain. I said it, dare to disagree? I didn't think so. I'll even go as far as saying he's the best player in the NHL. Drop me a line if you would like to dispute that claim. Oh, and stay tuned for a formal mid-season recap on the state of the league and other random thoughts I have.