The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson has made the boldest New Year's resolution of his life, guaranteeing fans that he and his teammates will capture the Stanley Cup this year. "Go ahead, write it," Alfredsson, not known for being cocky, recently told the Ottawa Sun. "I guarantee we'll win the Cup. I strongly believe this team will do it. No question about it." His statement is perhaps the bravest declaration the hockey world has seen since 1994, when Rangers captain Mark Messier guaranteed a victory over the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference final. Messier helped fulfill that prophecy but fans will have to wait until spring to see what will become of Alfredsson's promise. As Messier proved, public assurances to fans can work out, but his long-time friend Glen Sather has shown that that's not always the case. After he took over as coach of the Rangers in early 2003, Sather guaranteed his blueshirts would make the playoffs that spring. Of course that never happened, as his players were mercilessly booed off the ice of Madison Square Garden in April after being eliminated from the playoff hunt by the rival Devils.
