EXCLUSIVE: Neil was open to being traded

by Joe Boughner

When world leaked out on Twitter that Chris Neil had asked not to be traded to a cup contender, the reaction of Sens fans was wide ranging, all the way from anger to sadness. And while the fans' reactions are to be expected given the team's need to give more ice time to younger players, one was left to wonder exactly why the gobsmackingly-sought-after veteran wouldn't want a fresh start and a shot at The Greatest Trophy In Sports.

Well we here at RBM did some digging. Turns out Neil did sniff around the league to see where he might be welcome.


First he reached out to one of his oldest and closest friends in hockey.

Shocking. I guess the celebrity lifestyle really did change one of Ottawa's favourite sons.

Undeterred, Neil reached out to a couple of former captains looking for help.

Oddly enough, there aren't too many other players in the league who'll answer Neil's texts anymore (though we're bound by Article 25c of the Sportswriters Code to remind you he's never been suspended) so that was the end of his exploration. Though it seems that one other former teammate heard Neil was on the block and did his best sales pitch.

And that, Sens fans, is why you can expect to see a lot more of this face at Canadian Tire Centre in the coming weeks and months.

Here we see Chris Neil spitting.
Not pictured, the hopes of a fan base at the receiving end.