Daily Faceoff Live: Chris Neil’s number to the rafters, yay or nay?
On Monday’s edition of Daily Faceoff Live, Frank Seravalli and Mike McKenna discussed the Ottawa Senators retiring Chris Neil’s No. 25 to the rafters to join Daniel Alfredsson and Chris Phillips.
Frank Seravalli: The Sens announced that Chris Neil will have his number retired, No. 25. When you take a look at his career, just a fantastic, consistent presence for the Senators in their lineup. 1,026 games, all played with the Sens franchise, he’s their all-time leader in penalty minutes, and a heart and soul guy. But, I think this is an interesting decision Mike, you look at all of the numbers that have been retired throughout the league and taken out of circulation for a franchise, I can’t really think of a player who has a case quite like Chris Neil. Where he was more or less what you call a role player, not a superstar. What do you think of the decision to retire No. 25? Is it fitting, or is it a stretch?
Mike McKenna: I think it’s a great decision by the Sens if they’re going to keep retiring numbers because this is a player who was a lifer in Ottawa and meant a lot to that community on and off the ice. You know he did a lot of work with the Roger Neilson house, which is a paediatric care facility in the Ottawa area. But, he spent over 1000 games in a Senators jersey and you look at the history of that team who they’ve retired numbers from, Daniel Alfredsson, and Chris Phillips as well, for the most part, were lifers. I think that for Neil it’s the celebration of a player who was exactly what it means to be an Ottawa Senator.
Now, I’m not a huge fan of retiring numbers all across the board because at some point we’re going to run out of numbers. I’ll tell you this about Chris Neil, this guy Frank, was the single most vicious sewer ball player, two touch player that I have ever faced. I remember going there for training camp and he would just crush guys, like the competitive level of Chris Neil was terrifying and if there was anybody who was going to get his attention in the room it was him. He was the exact type of player that kept everything in that locker room moving in the right direction because everyone was so scared of him as they knew they might have a soccer ball flying at their head the next morning.
Frank Seravalli: Okay, that’s great. So let’s retire his number for his play as a two-touch player. Like if he wants to go into the two touch hall of fame, that’s great, we can do that. I just think it’s a reach, not to be sour, and I’m certainly not going to denigrate Chris Neil but, this is the ultimate honour for a franchise to retire a number and take it out of circulation and I’m sorry but it’s not the hall of good players in this case for the Ottawa Senators. This is the upper echelon, the upper cross that’s only reserved for a select five or six players of the entire length of your franchise. I’m sorry but Chris Neil as a player just doesn’t fit the bill just because you showed up every day.
Mike McKenna: Well maybe for your definition of it here Frank. But, I have been boots on the ground in Ottawa twice, I was with that organization twice. What that guy meant to that team and to that city, I think it’s fitting. I think it’s a little bit different if a dynamic than just looking at what he’s done on the ice for the club. I think it’s the whole fit and what he meant to that entire city, not just the organization.
Frank Seravalli: I’m not questioning what he meant to the city, the team or all the work he did in the community. All those things are fantastic but, that’s not what this honour is for. It’s not the good guy award or the guy who showed up for 1,026 games. It’s for the very best, most elite players in franchise history and I’m sorry but Chris Neil doesn’t fit the bill, it’s a reach.
You can watch the full episode here…