Daniel Alfredsson is interested in joining a group of locked-out Ottawa-area NHLers and playing in former coach and player John Chabot's exhibition tour of northern communities. "I just heard about it (Tuesday)," said the Senators captain. "There's no finalized plans yet, but I think it sounds really interesting. I'd love to go up there." Chabot's idea will probably take the players to the Northwest Territories and/or Quebec in early November, but first he wants them to play an exhibition game in the nation's capital early next week with all the money going to charity.

Daniel Alfredsson is still unsure about whether he will return to the NHL once the lockout ends. "I think the longer it's been going here I don't feel as eager to get back," Alfredsson said. ""I'd say I'm more relaxed. If it happens, it happens." Should the lockout continue through January, Alfredsson doesn't seem totally convinced about continuing his playing career. "Obviously, if we get a solution, I'll go to camp and see how the motivation is," Alfredsson said. "I haven't skated as much as we normally do, but I've been going to the gym four days a week, and I feel really good there."

Daniel Alfredsson made a surprise visit to the West Carleton Minor Hockey Association. Alfredsson met up with a Midget B team during their practice. "It was a lot of fun," Alfredsson said. "The surprise of the kids -- they were just going to start scrimmaging when I stepped on the ice. And they said, 'What are you doing here?' They were so shocked." Alfredsson's visit was part of a larger NHLPA project to have professional players make surprise appearances in young players' practices during the lockout. So far at least 75 NHL players have participated.

Jump, which is a restaurant in downtown Toronto that's expected to be hurt by the NHL lockout, is offering a burger that isn't "valid to NHL players or managers." They're calling it a Lockout Burger. We doubt many NHLers are going to be hurting over their inability to buy the burger, but in all seriousness, the lockout will have a negative impact on a number of businesses and employees that don't have a voice in the CBA negotiations.

Daniel Alfredsson spoke out against NHL owners on Wednesday. "Like everybody else, I'm disappointed that the owners chose to have this tactic from the very beginning," he said. "They chose to give a low-ball offer from the get-go. It was kind of clear what they wanted and I don't see anything changing anytime soon." His words probably won't sit well with Don Cherry, who warned players to stop badmouthing commissioner Gary Bettman and the owners via his Twitter account on Wednesday, but his frustration with the situation is mounting. The Ottawa captain may not get to play another NHL game depending on the length of this work stoppage. In the meantime, he has being working out off the ice and has kept his skating to a minimum. If the entire season gets canceled then he said he'll probably explore other playing options.

Daniel Alfredsson presented a pessimistic viewpoint of the CBA negotiations on Wednesday and he wondered if his NHL career would come to an end because of it. "There's no deal that's going to be done in the short term here, so we're looking at being locked out for a period of time, I think," he said. "I went through the lockout the last time (in 2004-05) and I'm a different stage of my career and I feel the same now as I did then. Even if this would turn out to be a whole season and I wouldn't play again, that's fine with me. I'm just a small piece of the puzzle. But I'd love to play again." Alfredsson will turn 40 in December and a lengthy lockout is obviously the last thing he wants to see. However, it doesn't sound like any decisions will become final until the picture is made clearer.

Daniel Alfredsson knows that he might have played in his last NHL game. Alfredsson will turn 40 on December 11, but he's already committed to playing in 2012-13. However, that won't happen if the players and owners fail to agree on a new CBA. It's possible that Alfredsson will return to the NHL even if the season gets wiped out, but it sounds like he hasn't made a decision.

Daniel Alfredsson will not look to play elsewhere before Christmas if there is not a new CBA between the NHL and NHLPA. Alfredsson will turn 40 years of age on December 11, so this may be his last season in hockey. "I'm not going to play before Christmas. If it would be a whole year, then I would probably make plans depending on what my future would look like. If I want to play (next season), I will probably go play somewhere," said Alfredsson. Alfredsson had a great offensive season in 2011-12 as he potted 27 goals and added 32 assists. Look to draft him in the middle rounds once the two sides settle their differences.

It appears Daniel Alfredsson's skills are intact. Back on the ice at the Bell Sensplex Friday for the first time since returning to Ottawa from Sweden, the Senators captain made it look like child's play as he toyed with Shane Prince and Andre Petterson during a game of keepaway. As hard as they tried to take the puck away from the 39-year-old Alfredsson, he dangled around the two Senators prospects and they learned they've got a long way to go if they're going to beat him, even if his career is winding down. He has no regrets about returning for another season. "For me, the decision to come back was physical and a bit mental, but more physical than anything," said Alfredsson, who played 75 games last season. "I have a lot of fun on the ice. There's no question, I love the game."

Daniel Alfredsson is dealing with a minor injury that's prevented him from skating lately. This is just an FYI as he should be fine soon. Alfredsson is getting ready for what could be his last NHL season.