Daniel Alfredsson (groin) will miss Wednesday's preseason game. Alfredsson was also held off the ice during the morning skate. He's day-to-day and it remains to be seen if he'll be available for the season opener.

Daniel Alfredsson (groin) didn't skate Saturday. He isn't expected to play this weekend, but he's hopeful that he will be able to play before Detroit's exhibition schedule ends.

Daniel Alfredsson (groin) was on the ice Friday. Alfredsson will stay out of Saturday and Sunday's preseason contests. Consider him day-to-day beyond that.

Daniel Alfredsson won't play Thursday night because of a groin injury. Detroit GM Ken Holland is listing Alfredsson as day-to-day with a tender groin. The 40-year-old veteran logged 22:40 of ice time in Tuesday's exhibition loss to Chicago.

Daniel Alfredsson said Thursday that he should be able to transition easily to Detroit's system. "I don't know if it's because Mac (Senators coach Paul MacLean, a former assistant under Babcock) was part of this organization for a long time and applied some the ideas along with his own," Alfredsson said. "It's not that far off. The drills are pretty similar. It looks like it should be an easy time adjusting."

Daniel Alfredsson's first game back in Ottawa will be special to him, even if he's booed. "I've thought about returning to Ottawa for that game a little bit," Alfredsson said. "In the end, people deserve to do what they think is right. I'm going to cherish that night, no matter what happens. It's a night I'm going to look forward to. So many great memories in that building and this will be another one I'll always remember when it comes around." Detroit's first game in Ottawa will be on Dec. 1, although they'll host the Senators twice before that meeting. Alfredsson thinks it's people's right to judge him based on his actions, but the booing won't change his feelings towards Ottawa.

Daniel Alfredsson's linemates to start the season will be decided at training camp. He could end up starting the year alongside Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk or with Stephen Weiss and Johan Franzen. "It's an exciting time of year for everybody, and for me, this year, it's very interesting," Alfredsson said. "This is the third time I'm in this locker room. You come in, and it's different - I don't think it will really sink in until we play our first home game. But it feels great to be here."

Newly-signed Daniel Alfredsson skated with the Red Wings for the first time on Friday. The veteran of 17 seasons with the Senators took part in his first informal skate with some of his new teammates and wore jersey number 11 while doing so. Not surprisingly, Alfie chose the locker room stall next to friend Henrik Zetterberg, which was vacated by the now-departed Valtteri Filppula. "We arrived yesterday, and coming here, skating with the guys, almost makes it feel that it's real now. I'm excited to be here, and I'm really looking forward to this challenge and what I can do for the team. Hopefully, I can have a good year."

Red Wings coach Mike Babcock couldn't be happier with the Red Wings signing Daniel Alfredsson. Babcock pointed to Alfredsson's hockey IQ and competitive nature as two of his strongest assets, but he also appreciates getting a strong right-hand shot. "We haven't had a bomb like that on the power play since (Brendan) Shanahan left, from the right side," Babcock said. "He'll make us way better."

Daniel Alfredsson said earlier this week that a lack of communication in contract negotiations with the Senators factored in for his choice to sign a one-year contract with the Red Wings and that his last contract had been structured under the assumption he would retire before the final year of the deal that paid $1 million, but Ottawa owner Eugene Melnyk sees it a different way. "For anyone to even suggest the remote possibility that (Ottawa GM) Bryan Murray is not fully honest in his clear recollection of events should be ashamed of themselves," Melnyk told TSN. "I point the finger squarely on (agent)JP Barry, the man who blessed us with the (Dany) Heatley mess. . .If you want to play a blame game - that is where you should be looking. I have a lot of respect for Daniel. I simply think he was not told the whole story or worse, was lied to. I won't be commenting on this again. We are busy and have a Stanley Cup to win." Barry said he stood by his comments made Thursday. "Shooting the messenger is something I have never believed in nor will I ever," Barry said. "It's just not productive in our business to make negotiations personal."