Ottawa Senators to “Raise Chris Neil’s no.25 to the Roof” Friday

Friday evening, the Ottawa Senators will raise Chris Neil‘s number 25 to the rafters. Neil joins Daniel Alfredsson (11), Frank Finnigan (8), Chris Phillips (4) as the only former Senators’ players to have their numbers retired.

At first glance, especially if you reside outside Ottawa, one may scoff as to why the Senators would retire the number of a hard-nosed, grinding forward who dropped the gloves 176 on occasions in his NHL career per HockeyFights.com.

But if you’re aware of what Neil meant to the team in his 15 seasons and combine it with his continuing contributions to the Ottawa community, you’ll understand.

Senators president of business operations Anthony LeBlanc said it best in a media release the day the announcement became public.

“Chris Neil was and is everything that you would want an Ottawa Senator to be. While his success on the ice made him one of this franchise’s most valued players – his work in the community, both as a player and following his career, have created a unique legacy. His impact on this city is a model for players across the National Hockey League.”

Selected 168th overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft from Ontario League North Bay Centennials, Neil cracked the Senators’ roster in the 2001-02 campaign after playing two seasons for the club’s International League affiliate in Grand Rapids, MI.

The native of Flesherton, ON posted modest offensive numbers in the IHL, his best in 00-01 where he registered 15 goals and 21 assists. But it was his penalty totals that stood out. Neil spent an astonishing 655 minutes in the box over 129 games – a sign of things to follow.

Tough as nails, Neil wore his heart on his sleeve. Never one to back down, his rambunctious style permitted teammates to skate freely, knowing “Neiler” had their backs.

Neil compiled 2,522 PIMS in 1,026 regular season games, plus another 204 in 95 playoff appearances in the NHL.

Not only is Neil one of three players to don the centurion in over 1000 games, along with former teammates, Alfredsson and Phillips, and is one of only two players in league history, former New Jersey Devil Ken Daneyko the other, to dress in over 1,000 games and collect over 2,500 penalty minutes while playing an entire career for one franchise.

Named alternate captain for the 2013-14 season, Neil was more than just an efficient grinding foward. He also had the ability to chip in offensively on occasion. accumulating 269 points including postseason.

Neil notched 112 regular season goals, in addition to nine more in the playoffs, including a game-winning overtime marker in 2012 in the opening round of the playoffs versus the New York Rangers.

But obviously the six-foot-one, 208 pound right wing was known for his crushing hits. His thunderous check on Boston Bruins Johnny Boychuk echoed throughout the Corel Centre, and is still memorable years later.