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In the estimation of Brad May, the former Anaheim Ducks’ heavyweight, Neil was the Senators best player for large portions of the 2007 Stanley Cup final — the only time in modern history the Senators have advanced to the final.

Neil played his final two games with the Senators during the second round of the playoffs against the New York Rangers, adding a physical edge that stopped Rangers tough guy Tanner Glass from being a factor.

Neil hasn’t officially retired, but he decided months ago that he wasn’t going to play this season.

“I’ve made my mind up for a while,” he said. “I turned down two offers earlier in the year. It just wasn’t the right fit for me. (One of the offers) would have been selfishly for the money, and I wanted to go somewhere to have a chance to win (the Stanley Cup).”

Neil was invited to attend the Montreal Canadiens training camp on a professional tryout offer, with no guarantees of receiving a contract when the season began, but had no interest.

“I was not going to go on a PTO,” he said. “They know what I can do. For me to go in there, with young guys challenging you all the time (in exhibition games) … it’s not as hard as it used to be, but I wasn’t doing that.”

Originally drafted by the Senators in the sixth round (161st overall) in 1998, he played 16 seasons with the club, riding the waves from good to bad to good to bad to good again.

While the Senators opted not to re-sign him as a free agent in the summer — he was used sparingly by coach Guy Boucher in 2016-17, seeing spot duty in 53 games — he expresses nothing but sympathy for the atrocious slide that has seen them lose 11 of their past 12 games. The seemingly endless road trip ends Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres.