Senior adviser of hockey operations for the Ottawa Senators is his official title.
A Big Boss title, right?
"I don't know if I feel like one of the big bosses, but it's fun to be around the big bosses," Daniel Alfredsson said, chuckling, in an interview last weekend.
"I've really enjoyed it and I've come to enjoy it more and more, actually," the Sens legend added in a serious tone.
Much like Martin Brodeur is going through with the St. Louis Blues, this season for Alfredsson is about figuring out whether NHL front-office life is for him, whether he has a lot to offer, and within that what exactly he would be good at if he wants to move forward with it.
"I'm trying to take in as much as I can from everybody," said Alfredsson, who turns 43 next month. "It's a lot to take in. Early on, I felt like I wasn't doing anything. Now, my feet are a little bit wetter and I feel like I can speak my mind a bit more freely in meetings we're having; I've got a much better feel for it. That's why I say I've come to like it more and more."
What does he like?
"I like the scouting part, watching games, especially our own team," he said. "It's way different seeing it from up top than it is playing. The development of the team interests me. Steps you take forward, backwards, how you handle it. Being in the office now and seeing everything that goes through, minor-league players, call-ups, how you manage that, it's been a lot of fun. I don't know if I would go on a full-time scout job and travel all the time, but this has been really interesting.
"I've also enjoyed being on the ice at times as well, helping out with different, more technical aspects, shooting and skills, I enjoy that part as well."
He is a rookie all over again.
"I look at this as how I felt when Erik [Karlsson] came into the league and he brought energy every day," said Alfredsson, who has a strong relationship to current captain and countryman Karlsson. "He made it fun for me again, being around young guys like that. That's what I'm doing now, I'm the rookie now in the office, I try to bring energy and enthusiasm. Sometimes I'm as naïve as a rookie player, I just try to keep my eyes open and ears wide and take in as much as I can."
Alfredsson's wife and kids stayed behind in Detroit this season because the decision to jump into the front-office job wasn't made until September, after the kids had already started school. He was officially hired on Sept. 17. So Alfredsson is commuting.
"It's hard to be away from the family as much as I am, but we know it's just for this year and then we'll find a solution," he said.
"It happened pretty quickly. We talked a bit in September about finding a fit for both sides. And once we did, I just started working right away in camp and it's been go, go, go."
More than anything, Alfredsson has tried to be a sponge, listening to veteran GM Bryan Murray and assistant GMs Pierre Dorion and Randy Lee.
"To this point it's just been trying to dig in and take in as much as possible in all different areas," said Alfredsson. "Bryan, Pierre and Randy and the scouting staff have been very open with me and have gone above and beyond to help me out. I've felt welcomed and that definitely helped."
Alfredsson has been to Binghamton, New York, to see the AHL club twice so far to watch games and their prospects. But mostly it's been time with the big club.
"Since it wasn't that long ago I retired, I still relate to the players quite a bit," said Alfredsson, who retired 2014. "I talk to them, see how they're feeling and looking at things, try to help them as much as I can, especially the young guys."
The organization for years openly talked about wanting Alfredsson to work with the team in retirement. It had always been the plan. But then an emotional split from the team in the summer of 2013 put that in question. Alfredsson was in a contract dispute stunning the hockey world and signed with Detroit.
While the relationship between Alfredsson and Murray was maintained, the two of them famously going for a car ride together in Detroit in November 2014, the question was how Alfredsson and owner Eugene Melnyk could get past what happened that summer in 2013. Water under the bridge now, reports Alfredsson.
"It's definitely behind us. There's no hard feelings," said Alfredsson, who signed a one-day contract last December to officially retire a Senator. "We just came to a point [in 2013] where I wanted to try something new for myself and my family. Bryan and I have discussed ... we have a saying in Sweden: 'You can say what you feel and you clear the air.' We haven't had any hard feelings against each other. We definitely respect each other. And with Mr. Melnyk as well, we felt this was a very good fit for everybody as this moment. And once this year is over, we'll discuss the future. It feels great to be back here with this team and this city."
The new job also allows Alfredsson to spend more time with Murray, who stoically continues his battle with cancer.
"Bryan is an inspiration, there's no question, I'm very fortunate to be able to come in and work for him," said Alfredsson.
Watching Murray do his thing, such as talking trades with other teams, that's also fascinating to Alfredsson.
"For sure it is, there are discussions going on, Bryan is working the phone quite a bit, just to hear what's going on around the league and staying up to date with everything," said Alfredsson. "Those discussions are interesting."
Which brings us to one final and burning question. Is it too early yet to envision himself as Senators GM years from now?
"I think it's hard to wrap my head around that right now," said Alfredsson. "Does it intrigue me? Definitely, without a question. Do I think I have what it takes? Do they think I have what it takes? I think that's what we're trying to figure out as we go along here."
Alfredsson paused, and then added before we wrapped up our phone interview: "But it's fun to come to work every day, that's for sure."