The 33-year-old Silfverberg was a key piece in Ottawa's 2013 deal to bring Bobby Ryan to the Senators.
Former Ottawa Senator Jakob Silfverberg has announced he will retire from the NHL at the end of the season. While only in Ottawa for one season, the former Senator second-rounder tipped his hat to fans in the capital.
“Thank you to the fans around the league, specifically in Anaheim and Ottawa," Silfverberg told nhl.com. "To spend 11 years in Orange County playing for the Ducks is something I will cherish every day, thanks in large part to all of you.”
Silfverberg's trade to Anaheim was a by-product of Daniel Alfredsson's 2013 contractual dispute with the Senators. The two Swedes were at very different points in their careers. Silfverberg had just finished his first NHL season and was seen as a potential Sens' star of the future. Alfredsson was the established superstar and about to enter his final NHL season. It felt like maybe a torch was about to be passed from one Swedish right winger to another.
However, as a free agent, Ottawa's Eugene Melnyk-inspired extension offers that summer offended Alfredsson so much that he picked up and signed with the Detroit Red Wings instead. The Sens legend ended his career with the Red Wings (leading them in scoring) and completely shocked Ottawa's fans.
Naturally, the Senators were in panic mode. Did they really just let the greatest player in their history walk? How would they replace an icon like Alfie? They couldn't, of course. But the very same day, they quickly traded for someone they hoped might do a decent Alfie impression right away. They acquired Bobby Ryan from Anaheim for Silfverberg, 2011 first-rounder Stefan Noesen, and Ottawa's 2014 first rounder (Nick Ritchie).
Silfverberg was a useful player for Anaheim but never ascended to the NHL stardom people expected after he'd won the SHL MVP award in Sweden for both regular season and playoffs. He was regarded at the time as one of the game's truly elite players not yet playing in the NHL.
In 11 seasons with the Ducks, Silfverberg had 354 points in 769 games and was their Masterton nominee last season, presented annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
Silfverberg's retirement announcement conjures up a weird time in Sens history, a time when fans were forced to really begin to sit up and take notice of the franchise's breathlessly low-quality ownership.