What we had. Jason Spezza.

[maclean]

while he exercised (rightly) his NTC to the fullest

rightly? seems to me he would've been better off in nashville

 

[pm88]

I'll always appreciate what Spezza did here. He was our #1C for years and was very productive at it. At his absolute peak he was mentioned with guys like Thornton and the Sedins as one of the best playmakers in the league. That's no small compliment and for a small market team like Ottawa who doesn't always get league wide attention, it was a source of pride for all of us I'm sure.

It was out of his control that management put him with garbage players after Heatley left. Colin Greening? Cory Conacher? C'mon, man. It would be challenging for even the very best playmakers in the league to make something happen with that

His defensive slip-ups were frustrating to watch but he did a lot more good things for us than bad. He may have been too one dimensional at times but he also helped win us a lot of games in his Ottawa career

I have no ill will towards Spezza. He seemed like a good guy and never shied away from the tough questions. I wish him the best and hope he has a monster season this year and gets a Cup before he calls it quits

 

[GuineaPig]

The "we're better without him, he was **** anyways" stuff reminds me of what was said about Hossa circa 2005-2008.

Hopefully Sens fans will grow out of this pettiness and appreciate what Spezza did for the club as well.

 

[edguy]

The "we're better without him, he was **** anyways" stuff reminds me of what was said about Hossa circa 2005-2008.

Hopefully Sens fans will grow out of this pettiness and appreciate what Spezza did for the club as well.

Personally think we are in a better place now that he's left.. BUT he never was a **** player. He did alot for this team and City. Personally hope we havent seen the last of Spezza in Ottawa. (Post retirement)

 

[BonkTastic]

rightly? seems to me he would've been better off in nashville

Yeah... in retrospect, that was a bad choice.

 

[Holdurbreathe]

Not to mention with his new cap hit we would still have room with the likes of Greening, Phillips, and Neil coming off the books after this season. That's an extra 6 million.

You're obviously a Spezza fan, but I think you are ignoring some important information with regards to Jason and its not all related to money.

GMs aren't just adding up numbers until they hit the magic cap figure, they are attempting to build a team that can produce more than the sum of its parts and ensure any individual part is not contracted for a term that brings unmanageable risk.

In the case of Spezza and the Senators, for Murray to offer him a contract at $7.5M for 4 years was an unmanageable risk.

The Senators had two young centers that were developing and showing potential, add to this Jason's less than stellar season and his injury history, it is understandable why the Senators were hesitant to offer dollars and term acceptable to Jason.

So Spezza elected to ask for a trade and management accommodated him.

IMO the right decision was made by both parties.

While some like to suggest Spezza's problems were all due to a lack of spending by the Senators, well Dallas spent close to the cap last season and missed the playoffs with Spezza as their #2 center. So obviously spending isn't the total solution.

IMO Spezza isn't a top line center at this point in his career and while he can still produce offense, he is largely a PP specialist.

Playing second line minutes on a team predicted to be a challenger and producing 19 ES points averaging 17+ minutes/game isn't an overwhelming endorsement for some of the claims being made in this thread.

PS fans are complaining about Phillips for $2.5M, can you imagine the wailing about Spezza at $7.5M for 4 more years producing 43 ES points and being a defensive liability and blocking the progression of Turris and Zibanead

 

[Micklebot]

You're obviously a Spezza fan, but I think you are ignoring some important information with regards to Jason and its not all related to money.

GMs aren't just adding up numbers until they hit the magic cap figure, they are attempting to build a team that can produce more than the sum of its parts and ensure any individual part is not contracted for a term that brings unmanageable risk.

In the case of Spezza and the Senators, for Murray to offer him a contract at $7.5M for 4 years was an unmanageable risk.

The Senators had two young centers that were developing and showing potential, add to this Jason's less than stellar season and his injury history, it is understandable why the Senators were hesitant to offer dollars and term acceptable to Jason.

So Spezza elected to ask for a trade and management accommodated him.

IMO the right decision was made by both parties.

While some like to suggest Spezza's problems were all due to a lack of spending by the Senators, well Dallas spent close to the cap last season and missed the playoffs with Spezza as their #2 center. So obviously spending isn't the total solution.

IMO Spezza isn't a top line center at this point in his career and while he can still produce offense, he is largely a PP specialist.

Playing second line minutes on a team predicted to be a challenger and producing 19 ES points averaging 17+ minutes/game isn't an overwhelming endorsement for some of the claims being made in this thread.

PS fans are complaining about Phillips for $2.5M, can you imagine the wailing about Spezza at $7.5M for 4 more years producing 19 ES points and being a defensive liability and blocking the progression of Turris and Zibanead

Where are you getting 19 ES points from???

Spezza had 36 ES pts (13 goals, and 23 assists) this past season, nearly double what you've suggested.

His 5v5 GF% was quite good at 53.8%, much better than the team average of 48.8%.

The three shorthanded goals against and poor 4v4 performance are troublesome, though that seems to be systemic to the team and not specific to Spezza.

He has his warts, but he was far from the problem in Dal.

 

[Bileur]

Where are you getting 19 ES points from???

Spezza had 36 ES pts (13 goals, and 23 assists) this past season, nearly double what you've suggested.

His 5v5 GF% was quite good at 53.8%, much better than the team average of 48.8%.

The three shorthanded goals against and poor 4v4 performance are troublesome, though that seems to be systemic to the team and not specific to Spezza.

He has his warts, but he was far from the problem in Dal.

His faceoff ability would have been a huge boost.

 

[Micklebot]

His faceoff ability would have been a huge boost.

I think peoples just assume he was the same Spezza we had that was recovering from post surgery back issues last year. 2013-14 Spezza hurt the team imo. 2014-15 Spezza would have helped (though I do agree that his departure probably helped Zibanejad and Turris to grow into their roles).

 

[Busboy]

I'm a big fan of Spezza but I think moving him worked out well for the team. We were already having some (minor) issues at resigning all of our players this year and this trend will continue in the next 2-3 years. Retaining our younger players should be our priority and if we were to add any player over the 5.5m$ range then it should be a Defenseman.

I have low expectations for Chiasson and Paul but the cap relief was necessary.

 

[ChocolateLeclaire]

I think peoples just assume he was the same Spezza we had that was recovering from post surgery back issues last year. 2013-14 Spezza hurt the team imo. 2014-15 Spezza would have helped (though I do agree that his departure probably helped Zibanejad and Turris to grow into their roles).

I think this was the most important net gain from the trade of Jason Spezza. Was he a great player for this franchise? Absolutely. But personally, I feel like it's now time for this team to be Turris' and Zibanejad's. It's especially time to see if Mika can become the #1 center the team projects him to be. If he isn't, well, then he may be a valuable piece in acquiring a legitimate #1 center for this team.

Part of Spezza leaving too, for me, is the closing of the 2000s window. Sadly, the players that came thru the 90s age of development didn't get it done for us. When Alfie retired, I was ready for the "Karlsson Age" of the franchise. Spezza is one of the symbols of the past, IMO, and I want to see what this franchise can now achieve with the new blood.

 

[pm88]

I think this was the most important net gain from the trade of Jason Spezza. Was he a great player for this franchise? Absolutely. But personally, I feel like it's now time for this team to be Turris' and Zibanejad's. It's especially time to see if Mika can become the #1 center the team projects him to be. If he isn't, well, then he may be a valuable piece in acquiring a legitimate #1 center for this team.

Part of Spezza leaving too, for me, is the closing of the 2000s window. Sadly, the players that came thru the 90s age of development didn't get it done for us. When Alfie retired, I was ready for the "Karlsson Age" of the franchise. Spezza is one of the symbols of the past, IMO, and I want to see what this franchise can now achieve with the new blood.

Fair enough and a good point. We had such talented players on this team for so long who just couldn't get it done as a group. I was happy for guys like Hossa, Chara, Kelly when they won their Cups. I just really hope Zibanejad can become that key guy for us down the road. He still has a lot of potential and I don't think he's anywhere close to reaching his peak ability. Time will tell what happens, but let's hope this organization keep moving forward positively

 

[NyQuil]

I still wish Spezza nothing but the best. He needed to play with a team committing to winning now while we needed to get on with our rebuild.

One of the most talented guys to strap 'em on for Ottawa and one who put up with a lot of **** while he was here but managed to stay professional.

Not to mention, Pizza Line.

If you aren't still amazed at what they could do together, you just don't like hockey.

 

[Upgrayedd]

I still wish Spezza nothing but the best. He needed to play with a team committing to winning now while we needed to get on with our rebuild.

One of the most talented guys to strap 'em on for Ottawa and one who put up with a lot of **** while he was here but managed to stay professional.

Not to mention, Pizza Line.

If you aren't still amazed at what they could do together, you just don't like hockey.

They were like the globetrotter out there, amazing times that this guy will always remember and appreciate! Wish Spezz nothing but the best, class guy on and off the ice!

 

[Holdurbreathe]

Where are you getting 19 ES points from???

Spezza had 36 ES pts (13 goals, and 23 assists) this past season, nearly double what you've suggested.

His 5v5 GF% was quite good at 53.8%, much better than the team average of 48.8%.

The three shorthanded goals against and poor 4v4 performance are troublesome, though that seems to be systemic to the team and not specific to Spezza.

He has his warts, but he was far from the problem in Dal.

My mistake, subtracted from the wrong column

I wasn't suggesting Spezza was a problem in Dallas, just that he was a poor fit for Ottawa going forward.

 

[Micklebot]

My mistake, subtracted from the wrong column

I wasn't suggesting Spezza was a problem in Dallas, just that he was a poor fit for Ottawa going forward.

That's certainly a possibility. I do feel though that you can never have too much talent, though budget would get in the way.

Either way, I'm happy the way things are going, but get a little bent out of shape when Spezza takes more heat than he deserves (even now that he's gone).

 

[Stylizer1]

You're obviously a Spezza fan, but I think you are ignoring some important information with regards to Jason and its not all related to money.

GMs aren't just adding up numbers until they hit the magic cap figure, they are attempting to build a team that can produce more than the sum of its parts and ensure any individual part is not contracted for a term that brings unmanageable risk.

In the case of Spezza and the Senators, for Murray to offer him a contract at $7.5M for 4 years was an unmanageable risk.

The Senators had two young centers that were developing and showing potential, add to this Jason's less than stellar season and his injury history, it is understandable why the Senators were hesitant to offer dollars and term acceptable to Jason.

So Spezza elected to ask for a trade and management accommodated him.

IMO the right decision was made by both parties.

While some like to suggest Spezza's problems were all due to a lack of spending by the Senators, well Dallas spent close to the cap last season and missed the playoffs with Spezza as their #2 center. So obviously spending isn't the total solution.

IMO Spezza isn't a top line center at this point in his career and while he can still produce offense, he is largely a PP specialist.

Playing second line minutes on a team predicted to be a challenger and producing 19 ES points averaging 17+ minutes/game isn't an overwhelming endorsement for some of the claims being made in this thread.

PS fans are complaining about Phillips for $2.5M, can you imagine the wailing about Spezza at $7.5M for 4 more years producing 43 ES points and being a defensive liability and blocking the progression of Turris and Zibanead

You are assuming that Spezza would of asked for 7.5 from the Sens because that's what he got from Dallas. If the plan were to try and assemble a team to make a run for it, and having management 100% on his side he probably would have taken some kind of hometown discount.

There is no doubt Zibby and Turris benefited for Spezza being traded but in no universe does that move make this team better. I would argue Turris would have had similar numbers. 1 underwhelming season of Spezza equals a career year for Turris.

This management team is all about unmanageable risk. Greening, Phillips, Cowen's 8 year deal that was turned down, Lehner over Bishop.

Look at Bobby Ryan's 7.25. how is that not unmanageable risk? I would rather Spezza for that money over 4 years/and injury risk to what Ryan has shown "thus" far.

Remember Alfie's less than stellar play/injuries that almost got him traded out of the city before we got Heatley?

Jason's less than stellar season was a result of many factors. The coaching staff wanting him to play a complete game, line mates since the Heatley trade were well below his pay grade but earned them pay days, injury recovery, new found pressure from being named captain, and coaching strategy. They run heatley out of town, they run the coach out of town, they run the old captain out of town but Spezza's production is supposed to be impervious to all of this?

Last season we didn't need either Chiasson nor Legwand and that would have been half of Spezza's contract. Everybody thinks Greening should of been bought out/sent to the minors but we also know Murray can't swallow his pride on that one.

The blame on this is not solely on Murray's shoulders because we know Melnyuk was trying to squeeze blood out of a rock. No one says spending to the cap is the solution but the hole we created by giving up a valuable piece that will only be replaced by 2 or more players was a bad move.

Spezza by himself might not produce point per game numbers but on a line with Greening and " Ol' dirty knees" Michalek you complain about it? He out scored both of them combined by 10 points that season.

At some point a player loses his value but at 31 and being a point a game player that just doesn't make sense. At 30 Alfie had his best years because of Spezza. Who's to say at 31 Spezza couldn't have had his best years because of Karlsson?

 

[Xamar*]

You are assuming that Spezza would of asked for 7.5 from the Sens because that's what he got from Dallas. If the plan were to try and assemble a team to make a run for it, and having management 100% on his side he probably would have taken some kind of hometown discount.

There is no doubt Zibby and Turris benefited for Spezza being traded but in no universe does that move make this team better. I would argue Turris would have had similar numbers. 1 underwhelming season of Spezza equals a career year for Turris.

This management team is all about unmanageable risk. Greening, Phillips, Cowen's 8 year deal that was turned down, Lehner over Bishop.

Look at Bobby Ryan's 7.25. how is that not unmanageable risk? I would rather Spezza for that money over 4 years/and injury risk to what Ryan has shown "thus" far.

Remember Alfie's less than stellar play/injuries that almost got him traded out of the city before we got Heatley?

Jason's less than stellar season was a result of many factors. The coaching staff wanting him to play a complete game, line mates since the Heatley trade were well below his pay grade but earned them pay days, injury recovery, new found pressure from being named captain, and coaching strategy. They run heatley out of town, they run the coach out of town, they run the old captain out of town but Spezza's production is supposed to be impervious to all of this?

Last season we didn't need either Chiasson nor Legwand and that would have been half of Spezza's contract. Everybody thinks Greening should of been bought out/sent to the minors but we also know Murray can't swallow his pride on that one.

The blame on this is not solely on Murray's shoulders because we know Melnyuk was trying to squeeze blood out of a rock. No one says spending to the cap is the solution but the hole we created by giving up a valuable piece that will only be replaced by 2 or more players was a bad move.

Spezza by himself might not produce point per game numbers but on a line with Greening and " Ol' dirty knees" Michalek you complain about it? He out scored both of them combined by 10 points that season.

At some point a player loses his value but at 31 and being a point a game player that just doesn't make sense. At 30 Alfie had his best years because of Spezza. Who's to say at 31 Spezza couldn't have had his best years because of Karlsson?

Beautiful post.

 

[Stylizer1]

Beautiful post.

 

[SpezDispenser]

Spezza was awesome. Past tense. You don't win with that kind of player.

 

[BUCKLE UP]

What we had. Jonathan Cheechoo.

note: Just a bit NSFW (light swears)

 

[Ice-Tray]

Yeah... in retrospect, that was a bad choice.

Yeah, except people forget that this is a human being making the decision, one with a wife and young family. Yes, he would like to win a championship, but he also has a life, and a shared one at that.

I imagine that he doesn't regret not going to Nashville at all, otherwise he would not have included them in the list of teams he didn't want to go to. It's not like they came out of nowhere to make the playoffs, everyone knew they were a decent team. I dunno, I wouldn't want to live in Nashville, and if I was an offensive player looking for a good fit as a really good addition, Dallas fits the bill waaaaay more than Nashville does.

Sure, some Ottawa fans look and laugh and think that it was dumb of him (even happy at the perceived failure), but Dallas seems like a great move for his family, it's a much more offensive oriented team which suits his play style, and he loves the Cowboys. Being a contender is a very important consideration, and Dallas certainly has the offence for it, but common sense would dictate that a lot more went into the decision making process on which cities the Spezza family was willing to live in, as well as play.

Say what you will, but Dallas should be hella interesting to watch this year.

 

[Knave]

So many posts whining about how Spezza is absolutely blameless for anything that happened to him.

Hilarious read. Thanks guys.

 

[Ice-Tray]

So many posts whining about how Spezza is absolutely blameless for anything that happened to him.

Hilarious read. Thanks guys.

Pointless cheapshot-and-run post.

There are literally no posts claiming Spezza was "blameless". Even the most biased posters have no problems admitting that Spezza has his "warts".

He is the most talented Centreman this team has ever had, who in the end wanted to move to a contender to try and win something to close out his career. He did it in a respectful manner, behind the scenes, and was nothing but a pro, and a loyal Senator during his time here.

What's not to like? Honestly, his play deficiencies are such that people can actually hold a grudge? His occasional bad drop pass, or limited defence is actually overwhelming his amazing offensive creativity and productivity to people? Even in retrospect when looking back now that he's gone? That seems absolutely crazy to me. With out any day-to-day frustrating plays to fuel the burn, how can any sens fan, new or old, not look back fondly on Jason and his time here with the team. He was literally a central part in the best years this organization has ever had, still the high water mark, and the centre on one of the best lines in hockey ever!

I guess some people still have a hate on for Alfie so I shouldn't be surprised.

 

[ChocolateLeclaire]

Pointless cheapshot-and-run post.

There are literally no posts claiming Spezza was "blameless". Even the most biased posters have no problems admitting that Spezza has his "warts".

He is the most talented Centreman this team has ever had, who in the end wanted to move to a contender to try and win something to close out his career. He did it in a respectful manner, behind the scenes, and was nothing but a pro, and a loyal Senator during his time here.

What's not to like? Honestly, his play deficiencies are such that people can actually hold a grudge? His occasional bad drop pass, or limited defence is actually overwhelming his amazing offensive creativity and productivity to people? Even in retrospect when looking back now that he's gone? That seems absolutely crazy to me. With out any day-to-day frustrating plays to fuel the burn, how can any sens fan, new or old, not look back fondly on Jason and his time here with the team. He was literally a central part in the best years this organization has ever had, still the high water mark, and the centre on one of the best lines in hockey ever!

I guess some people still have a hate on for Alfie so I shouldn't be surprised.

I've always found it weird that for a "white-collar government town", the fans here love their "blue-collar lunch pail" players. It's like they're afraid of skill and would take a shot-blocker over a dangler.