- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Senators Erik Karlsson and Jason Spezza confirmed that they both wern’t close to 100% when they came back. Spezza back surgery recovery was to take three months, but he suffered a setback three weeks in. Spezza also tore his meniscus and will need surgery that will need two to three weeks recovery.
“I was very encouraged that I could play and my back held up well,” said Spezza. “It’s still not 100% because I had surgery not even four months ago. The knee is nothing serious but it’s something I’ll get fixed. It was a pain more than anything.”
Karlsson said he wasn’t 100% and will welcome the rest this summer.
“It doesn’t feel good. I’m just going to go home and rehab it now and it give it some more time,” said Karlsson, who will need two to three months of rehab. “Hopefully by the start of the next (season) it will be back to where it was.”
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Daniel Alfredsson on the retirement question:
“There are no thoughts as of now,” said Alfredsson. “It’s always an empty feeling when you lose out in the playoffs and now it’s just enjoy some family time. I’ll probably take a week before I even think about it and go from there.
“It’s been a mentally draining season with the schedule and everything. I just feel like I need to give it a little bit of time, freshen up and take it from there.
“Do I have it in me again to go through another summer of training and getting ready for another season?” said Alfredsson. “I wish you could just take the summer off and come in and play. It doesn’t work like that.
“Is the motivation there and do I have the energy to go through that? That’s probably one of the biggest questions. Then, I’ve also got to talk to my wife (Bibi).”
- Ian Mendes: Senators UFA defenseman Sergei Gonchar said he wants to play another two years in the NHL. He would like to stay in Ottawa.
