Veteran Ottawa Senators forward Chris Neil announces retirement
OTTAWA — Chris Neil figured he wouldn’t stick in the NHL on skill alone, so he created a niche for himself based on toughness and a peerless work ethic.
It’s a role Neil played to the hilt over 15 seasons in Ottawa, endearing himself to teammates and fans in the nation’s capital.
The rugged winger officially retired Thursday morning after playing 1,026 games, all with the Senators. His 2,522 career penalty minutes leave him 20th on the NHL’s all-time list, and he leaves the game as one of only two players in NHL history (New Jersey’s Ken Daneyko is the other) to compile over 1,000 games and 2,500 penalty minutes while playing his entire career for a single franchise.
With a number of family members and close friends on hand, Neil was visibly emotional as he spoke of realizing his childhood dream of playing in the NHL.