SUNRISE, FLA.

The Great One has no doubts Daniel Alfredsson has had a great career.

As the former Senators captain prepares to officially hang up his skates for good next Thursday in Ottawa, Wayne Gretzky believes Alfredsson will join him in the Hockey Hall of Fame one day.

"I don't have a vote, but if I was voting, I'd vote him in the Hall of Fame," Gretzky told the Sun in an interview on Friday from his St. Louis home.

"I always look at the criteria of how a guy approached the game -- and he approached it with dignity and class. How a guy played under pressure -- and he always seemed to play good games well under pressure; and he made a difference in the sport.

"I definitely think he's got a great opportunity to be a first-time ballot (entry)."

While Alfredsson's departure for the Red Wings as a free agent on July 5, 2013, wasn't pretty, Gretzky always knew the two sides would patch up their differences.

Gretzky said the decision by Alfredsson and the Senators to make this announcement in Ottawa is the right one. He's going back to the place where he belongs to say goodbye.

Coming to Ottawa with the family on Dec. 4th. Looking forward to see everybody! #HappyThanksgiving#drycake? — Daniel Alfredsson (@DAlfredsson11) November 27, 2014

Alfredsson played 99% of his career with the Senators and enjoyed his most memorable moments in Ottawa. It wouldn't have been right for him to call it quits in Detroit last Monday even if the Senators were in town for the day.

"It's proper. I know he tried to broaden his horizons and he went to Detroit for that one year," said Gretzky. "The reality is people are going to know him as a Senator because of what he did for the organization and what he meant to the city and community. He's been the face of the franchise. When you talk about the Ottawa Senators, you're always going to think of Daniel Alfredsson.

"There's always some distraught (fans) when a player of that calibre leaves and goes to another team. Disappointment sets in for people who: (a) Don't understand why he left; and then (b) the diehards that always wanted to see him in a Senators uniform.

"It's just another reminder that there is a business side of hockey. Ottawa made a business decision and they stuck by their guns and he made a business decision and he stuck by his guns. Ultimately, those bridges seem to get rectified and wounds heal. As they say, you can always go home, and I knew the Ottawa fans would be opening their arms and welcoming him back."

That's because of the passing of time and the fact both sides have had the chance to take a step back. Despite the break, there were plenty of good years for the Senators and Alfredsson.

Gretzky believes the Senators' faithful will embrace the return of the former captain. The bad blood boiled over, but that's all gone now. This night will be a celebration of his career.

"What always happens in these scenarios is the fans are the ones who take it the hardest," said Gretzky. "At the end of the day, Daniel has a lot of class and Bryan Murray has a lot of class, and I knew that it would just be a matter of time before time healed these wounds and they would rectify their differences.

"It's great for Daniel, it's wonderful for the city and the fans. It's really good for the Senators and, most importantly, it's really good for hockey because it sets the tone that people can come home. That's maybe bigger than anything."

Gretzky knows how tough this decision is for Alfredsson to retire.

"Unfortunately, the one thing we all have in common is that, one day, we're going to be done. That's the one common denominator: If you play in the NHL, you're eventually going to be an alumnus. Welcome to the alumni world," Gretzky said with a chuckle.

"People forget it's not just a question of the years he played in Ottawa and Detroit. Since four-or-five, he's been playing hockey. We always say we're big kids playing a kid's game and, when somebody says, 'Physically, I don't think you can do it anymore,' it's tough. You've skated pretty much your whole life and, all of a sudden, you face the fact that you just can't physically do it. It's really difficult. It's an entire change -- not just for him -- but an entire change for his family because you don't go to the rink every day and you don't play those games anymore."

The best bet for Alfredsson is to take a break from hockey and just enjoy what life has to offer. There will be a time and place for Alfredsson to work, but it doesn't have to be right now.

Gretzky speaks from experience because he spent some time away before taking on a coaching role with the Phoenix Coyotes.

"He needs to take a step away. It will be good for him and good for his family," Gretzky said. "Now he can do some things that he's never done before. There's a whole new world for him now. Little things like spending Christmas at home with his family or a spring break vacation in a warm climate while his kids are out of school. Those things open up.

"To jump back into hockey, my advice is to take a step back, and I'm sure that's what he's going to do."

Down the road, Gretzky is convinced Alfredsson will have a job waiting for him in the Ottawa organization if that's what he wants to do.

The Senators and Alfredsson haven't talked about a role in the front office, but that day will likely come. Gretzky had an interesting take on what Alfredsson means to this organization.

"Ultimately, he knows too much about the game. He's too classy of a guy. He's sort of the Jean Beliveau of the Senators. I'm not trying to compare him to Beliveau, but he's got that kind of class," said Gretzky.

"He's done a lot of great things for the community. I'd be shocked if, down the road, he's not part of the Senators organization or at least offered to be part of the organization."

Classy words from one of the classiest to ever play the game.

Twitter: @sungarrioch