Post by brob89 (NSH) on Mar 2, 2016 13:50:01 GMT -5
- OTTAWA
In a, perhaps not altogether surprising move, Chris Phillips has returned to the Ottawa Senators; the team he spent 18 and a half
seasons with before being traded to Tampa Bay before last season's trade deadline. Chris Phillips was very candid and, at times,
emotional about returning home.
"It was a difficult moment for me and my family when management... when Bob, told me that I was being shopped around the league,
and that I was likely going to be moved. Ottawa was all that I had known since I was 19 years old, and it was just hard to imagine
putting on another sweater. And then here I was at 37, almost 38, starting this new adventure. It was hard. My wife and kids shed
some tears over it to be sure."
There are some who had suggested that this had been in the plans all along. Supposing that Ottawa sought to maximize on an asset
with an expiring contract with the expectation that they would likely be able to bring him back in the Summer. Phillips rejected this
suggestion, or at least made it clear that he was unaware of this plan.
"Ha! That would have made leaving easier had that been in place, but it simply wasn't. As far as I knew, Ottawa was moving in another
direction, getting younger and all that. Rebuilding. I figured that Tampa was a place where I'd have my last big chance to go after the prize, and
then that went south quickly. Honestly, I wasn't expecting many calls. My wife and I were considering things, even retirement. But then, July
1st happened and the first call I received was from my agent saying Ottawa had made an offer, and... here we are."
Tampa Bay had also been interested in bringing Phillips back for another season, but he said that he was never very close to returning to
the Lightning.
"Yeah, you know that was another surprise for me. I mean, my agent reached out to them when we first arrived and again in June, and they
weren't interested. And then all the sudden, after letting me go out on the open market, then they were calling us up. It just was a bit of a
peculiar turn of events, but it doesn't really matter. I had a great time there, and I'm pleased to be back in Ottawa. And I'm excited to be
a part of this group that looks poised to do big things."
When asked about his feelings towards management after the ordeal of the last six months and being moved, Phillips seemed content to
allow things to remain in the past.
"Well, sitting where I am right now; what is there to be said? I've been in Ottawa for just about half of my life. This is home. This is my team.
I want excellence for my city and my team, and a number of players and good friends have been moved in the process of getting to where we are right
now. And that hurts. That's not easy. But looking at the roster of players that have been assembled over the last year by this management
team; I can't help but be excited for the present and the future. And I'm thankful that I get to be a part of this part of Ottawa Senator history.
We've got one goal in mind this year: the Stanley Cup. And moving me when they did was a part of building the franchise to where we are
at present. So, it was hard, and I wasn't happy about it at first. But looking back with my present perspective; I'm happy things turned out
like they did."
It's unclear whether Chris Phillips will have the Captaincy returned to him now that he has returned. The player who took over the Captaincy
after Phillips left, Henrik Sedin, has also been moved. But Phillips seems ready to accept whatever role he's offered in this new and improved
version of the Ottawa Senators.
"I'll play wherever and however. It was an honor to be Captain of this team, but I'm here to earn my minutes and opportunities. True leaders
aren't leaders because of a title. I'm just going to keep being me, giving my best for my teammates, and encouraging them to do the same."
- end -
In a, perhaps not altogether surprising move, Chris Phillips has returned to the Ottawa Senators; the team he spent 18 and a half
seasons with before being traded to Tampa Bay before last season's trade deadline. Chris Phillips was very candid and, at times,
emotional about returning home.
"It was a difficult moment for me and my family when management... when Bob, told me that I was being shopped around the league,
and that I was likely going to be moved. Ottawa was all that I had known since I was 19 years old, and it was just hard to imagine
putting on another sweater. And then here I was at 37, almost 38, starting this new adventure. It was hard. My wife and kids shed
some tears over it to be sure."
There are some who had suggested that this had been in the plans all along. Supposing that Ottawa sought to maximize on an asset
with an expiring contract with the expectation that they would likely be able to bring him back in the Summer. Phillips rejected this
suggestion, or at least made it clear that he was unaware of this plan.
"Ha! That would have made leaving easier had that been in place, but it simply wasn't. As far as I knew, Ottawa was moving in another
direction, getting younger and all that. Rebuilding. I figured that Tampa was a place where I'd have my last big chance to go after the prize, and
then that went south quickly. Honestly, I wasn't expecting many calls. My wife and I were considering things, even retirement. But then, July
1st happened and the first call I received was from my agent saying Ottawa had made an offer, and... here we are."
Tampa Bay had also been interested in bringing Phillips back for another season, but he said that he was never very close to returning to
the Lightning.
"Yeah, you know that was another surprise for me. I mean, my agent reached out to them when we first arrived and again in June, and they
weren't interested. And then all the sudden, after letting me go out on the open market, then they were calling us up. It just was a bit of a
peculiar turn of events, but it doesn't really matter. I had a great time there, and I'm pleased to be back in Ottawa. And I'm excited to be
a part of this group that looks poised to do big things."
When asked about his feelings towards management after the ordeal of the last six months and being moved, Phillips seemed content to
allow things to remain in the past.
"Well, sitting where I am right now; what is there to be said? I've been in Ottawa for just about half of my life. This is home. This is my team.
I want excellence for my city and my team, and a number of players and good friends have been moved in the process of getting to where we are right
now. And that hurts. That's not easy. But looking at the roster of players that have been assembled over the last year by this management
team; I can't help but be excited for the present and the future. And I'm thankful that I get to be a part of this part of Ottawa Senator history.
We've got one goal in mind this year: the Stanley Cup. And moving me when they did was a part of building the franchise to where we are
at present. So, it was hard, and I wasn't happy about it at first. But looking back with my present perspective; I'm happy things turned out
like they did."
It's unclear whether Chris Phillips will have the Captaincy returned to him now that he has returned. The player who took over the Captaincy
after Phillips left, Henrik Sedin, has also been moved. But Phillips seems ready to accept whatever role he's offered in this new and improved
version of the Ottawa Senators.
"I'll play wherever and however. It was an honor to be Captain of this team, but I'm here to earn my minutes and opportunities. True leaders
aren't leaders because of a title. I'm just going to keep being me, giving my best for my teammates, and encouraging them to do the same."
- end -