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Kidding aside, Neil said he has had opportunity to sign for what would be his 16th NHL season, but had instead decided to hold off for a deal most suitable for him and his family.

“Everything is pretty quiet right now,” Neil said. “Obviously, I’ve had some offers from teams. Looking at it, it wasn’t the right fit at the time. There’s some stuff in the air, and we’re still going through it. It’s not just me I’m thinking about. It’s my wife and my kids. It’s got to be the right kind of fit, like Ottawa has been through my whole career.”

The fact that August is around the corner and he still doesn’t have a contract does not worry Neil, who is looking for a one-year, one-way offer.

“I’m confident because of the chats we’ve had with teams,” he said. “You look at the free-agent players that are out there now, there’s a lot of veteran players that are good reliable players, and I’m one of those guys. You can’t read too much into it. It’s no different than any other year.

“I’m just kind of sitting back and enjoying the summer, and spending time with my family. Everyone’s asking, ‘Are you stressed?’ I’m not stressed at all. Like I’ve always said, God has a way for me, and he’ll lead me in the right direction.”

Neil has received a lot of support from fans in Ottawa who run into him around the city.

“A lot of people that have come up to me wish I was still going to be part of the organization,” he said. “They wish me nothing but the best. That just goes to show you the type of fans we have in Ottawa and how passionate they are about the team. They care about the players and what happens to them.”