For 15 years and nearly 1,200 regular season and playoff games, Chris Neil was the heartbeat of the Ottawa Senators. Despite leaving the organization and becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of last season, Neil retired as a Senator Thursday morning.
Originally a sixth-round pick in the 1998 draft, Neil brought passion, grit and energy to the Senators upon his NHL arrival in 2001-02 and continued to bring the fight -- literally and figuratively -- to the rink every day right on through last season's run to the Eastern Conference Final even when he had a limited role.
After 1,026 games, all with the #Sens, Chris Neil has officially announced his retirement from the @NHL. #Congrats pic.twitter.com/Mc1VGS8dkB
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) December 14, 2017
Neil is Ottawa's all-time franchise leader in penalty minutes with 2,522. That total, which ranks 20th in NHL history, included four seasons of 200 or more PIM. He is one of three players -- Chris Phillips and Daniel Alfredsson -- to play more than 1,000 games in a Senators uniform.
The rugged 38-year-old, who became a team leader and alternate captain, appeared in 1,026 regular season games, scored 112 goals, earned 138 assists and totaled 250 points. He played in another 95 postseason contests -- though only two last spring. Neil had 204 penalty minutes to go along with nine goals and 19 points in the playoffs.
“Chris Neil exemplifies the best qualities of both our city and the Senators franchise,” said Senators owner Eugene Melnyk in a statement. “His career personified grit, drive and resilience; there was never a day that he was not there for his teammates. Chris earned everything he achieved in the league through his hard work and dedication to the game and he will go down in history as one of the great character players to ever wear the Senators jersey.”
The Senators organization will salute Neil prior to the Jan. 25 games against the Boston Bruin at Canadian Tire Centre.