"I will forever be a Senator."

Bestowing an honor not previously awarded in the modern era of the franchise, the Ottawa Senators retired the number of the greatest player in their history, raising Daniel Alfredsson's No. 11 to the rafters Thursday night at Canadian Tire Centre.

Alfredsson spent 17 of his 18 seasons with Ottawa, serving the role of captain for 13 years. Over that span, he scored 426 goals, 682 assists, and 1,108 points - all franchise records.

He was responsible for many of the greatest moments in franchise history. At the top of that list, he scored the overtime winner to send the Senators to the Stanley Cup Final in 2007.

The ceremony came just prior to puck drop versus the Detroit Red Wings, who Alfredsson spent his final season with chasing the Stanley Cup that eluded him in his career.

Initially, Alfredsson's decision to join the Red Wings strained ties with the Senators, leading some to question whether this day would come. However, soon after Alfredsson announced his retirement, the relationship was mended, and he returned to the franchise in an executive role.

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After locking up Artemi Panarin for another two years, now comes the tricky part for general manager Stan Bowman and the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks made the two-year, $12-million extension of the forward official on Thursday, and now Bowman will be tasked with freeing up some cap space for the team going forward. Worrying about the numbers, though, isn't something the GM's concerned about at the moment - especially after having locked up a key part of the team's core.

"My suggestion would be to try to enjoy the fact that we've got a great player who is a big part of our team," Bowman said, according to Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago. "He wants to be here in Chicago, he loves playing with his teammates and he's having a lot of fun and scoring a lot of goals. That's really the thing that we're excited about. The other stuff, we'll make it work. The time to dissect that is not right now but we'll get there eventually.

"We've been doing that for months now … it's a process we're always going to be facing."

Related: Panarin values environment over money in re-signing with Blackhawks

Following the Panarin deal, the Blackhawks now find themselves with under $450,000 in cap space remaining. Heading into next season the team will have just short of $6.4 million in cap space, but will need to spend that money wisely or make moves with nine players from their current roster set to become either restricted or unrestricted free agents at season's end.

Of course, with the Blackhawks currently perched atop the Western Conference standings there are more pressing issues than next year's salary cap.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs' all-time goals leader will not take the ice for the club's alumni game against the Detroit Red Wings on New Years Eve.

Former captain Mats Sundin - who was expected to play - has pulled out with his wife expecting to give birth to the couple's third child, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton.

Defenseman Tomas Kaberle was also supposed to suit up but was not on the final roster of the game due to the fact he'll be attending a funeral in the Czech Republic.

Meanwhile for the Red Wings, after appearing on the initial roster, forward Sergei Fedorov was not named to the lastest list.

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The Florida Panthers will head into 2017 without Aleksander Barkov.

The forward is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury, head coach Tom Rowe said Thursday. He offered no further update.

Rowe said Wednesday that Barkov would be "out a few days" after the 21-year-old left that night's game early, but the injury appears more significant than initially thought.

Barkov was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday, but there's no word on the results.

In his fourth season, Barkov has nine goals and 18 assists in 36 games, and was heating up after a slow start.

He'll be missed.

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It's rare to see a hockey fight start inside the penalty box, but that's exactly what happened during a recent game between the ECHL's Utah Grizzlies and Colorado Eagles.

After being sent to the box for cross-checking, Grizzles forward Jon Puskar exchanged some words with Eagles defenseman Michael Sdao while the door was still open. Whatever he said clearly ticked off Sdao, because the Eagles player then stepped into the box and began throwing punches at him.

Sdao's actions earned him a three-game suspension and an undisclosed fine.

- With h/t to Puck Daddy

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Here are the fantasy repercussions following the news Pittsburgh Penguins' G Matt Murray is week-to-week with a lower-body injury:

There are few things as vague as injury terminology in hockey. "Week-to-week with a lower-body injury" could mean anything. Murray owners simply have sit tight and wait until his return, whenever that might be.

In the meantime, Murray must be stashed in an available IR spot. For those unable to do so, Murray still has to be kept in a bench spot, even if it means dropping a forward or defenseman. With a 13-3-1 record and 2.18 GAA, Murray is one of the top goalies in fantasy.

The one positive here, however, is Pittsburgh's schedule. After a game with Montreal on New Year's Eve, the Pens aren't in action again until January 8. Expect there to be an update regarding Murray's injury during this CBA-mandated bye week.

Fleury takes over at the right time

Marc-Andre Fleury has been a streaky goalie throughout his 13-year career. Right now, he looks to be rolling. In his past five appearances, he's 3-0-1 with a .947 GAA. He's been especially good in his last three starts, allowing just three goals on 66 shots, including a 19-save shutout against Carolina in relief of an injured Murray.

With a matchup against Montreal next on the docket, Fleury will make for an intriguing daily fantasy option. Montreal is one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and could push Fleury's ownership down a hair. Consider Fleury as a possible contrarian play.

In season-long leagues, Fleury is most likely owned. If not, he needs to be picked up immediately. At 24-8-5 and first in goals scored, Pittsburgh provides their netminder a shot at victory each and every night.

Expect Tristan Jarry, Pittsburgh's second-round pick in 2013, to be called up to handle backup duties. Look to him as a tournament bargain play when he starts.

Waiver Wire Targets

Antti Niemi, Dallas Stars

• Dallas' open-ended style often leaves their goalies vulnerable to a shelling or two. While counterpart Kari Lehtonen has started Dallas' past two games, Niemi's been less susceptible to blowups and sports a 7-4-4 record compared to Lehtonen's 8-10-3 mark.

Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets

• Hellebuyck doesn't provide strong individual stats and doesn't come with a powerhouse team in front of him. He has, however, gone 3-1 with a .938 SV% in his past four starts, including stopping 34-of-35 shots against Chicago. With upcoming games against the Islanders, Lightning, Panthers, Sabres, and Flames, Hellebuyck may suffice for now.

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There are more important things in the world than money.

So says Artemi Panarin after signing a two-year contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks worth a reported $12 million.

While he might be worth more than that on the open market, Panarin was willing to take less money to remain with the only NHL home he's ever known.

"I like everything about the team and the environment here," he said, per Mark Lazerus of the Chicago-Sun Times. "You can’t earn all the money in the world."

As productive as he's been since entering the NHL at the beginning of the 2015-16 season, he knows he can't rest on his laurels, especially with another new contract to be signed in 2019.

Panarin has found a home alongside Patrick Kane in Chicago's lineup, and has averaged almost a point per game through 117 career appearances.

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There are more important things in the world than money.

So says Artemi Panarin after signing a two-year contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks worth a reported $12 million.

While he might be worth more than that on the open market, Panarin was willing to take less money to remain with the only NHL home he's ever known.

"I like everything about the team and the environment here," he said, per Mark Lazerus of the Chicago-Sun Times. "You can’t earn all the money in the world."

As productive as he's been since entering the NHL at the beginning of the 2015-16 season, he knows he can't rest on his laurels, especially with another new contract to be signed in 2019.

Panarin has found a home alongside Patrick Kane in Chicago's lineup, and has averaged almost a point per game through 117 career appearances.

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Actions have consequences, plain and simple.

That was the message delivered by Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper the morning after scratching center Valtteri Filppula from Wednesday's lineup for missing a team meeting.

"It's all about the team," Cooper said Thursday, per Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. "Everything here is team first. But the hard thing about the situation like this was, there was no ill will in any of this. That's the part that's tough, when it's a simple mistake. But everyone else is included in this, trust me. Nobody wants any of this to happen.

"Fortunately for us we were able to win the game," he added. "But believe me we're a much better team with Val in the lineup."

The Lightning indeed beat Montreal in overtime without Filppula, but he'll return for Thursday's game against Toronto.

In 34 games this season, Filppula has recorded six goals and 18 assists.

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Connor McDavid isn't quite there yet.

Likely to reach Sidney Crosby's level sooner than later, even the Edmonton Oilers star recognizes where any conversation about the best in the game begins and ends.

Crosby has indeed drawn level with McDavid atop the NHL's scoring leaderboard, as both have recorded 42 points this season.

Related: Gear up for the Crosby vs. McDavid points race

The Pittsburgh Penguins superstar, however, has scored 26 goals in 31 games, and has the advantage when it comes to points per game after missing time early on with a concussion.

Crosby and McDavid are set to go head to head on March 10 in Edmonton.

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