A quick update on the Jason Spezza trade watch, which is really going to pick up in the next week or two.
On TSN1260 this morning, TSN's Darren Dreger revealed at least some of the teams on Jason Spezza's limited no-trade list. We have kind of anticipated that most of these teams are the other Canadian franchises and some of the less savory American markets, based on earlier reporting by Bruce Garrioch.
But, there's one interesting club in the group Dreger listed today.
Nashville is one of three teams I genuinely expected to bid -- and perhaps bid big -- on Jason Spezza's services. Though they're not the Cup contender teams like Anaheim and St. Louis may be, Nashville has a dire need for offensive talent, and the general thought was that the new regime with the Predators would look to land a big player up-top this summer.
And that still may be the case. But, evidently, that won't be Jason Spezza.
It's been said before, but there aren't a million suitors for Jason Spezza once you combine the teams he won't waive for with the teams the Ottawa Senators won't talk to. I've never understood the principle of refusing to trade within one's own division or conference -- if the goal is to win a trade, and you think you are moving a player whose best years are behind him, it's better to send him to a competitor and punish them in the long-term.
If you're to believe the Sun, Spezza likely won't be moved to an Eastern Conference team. He won't waive for Nashville, as noted above. There are four Canadian cities in the West -- Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg. We've heard before that he has little appetite to go to another Canadian market, so I'm guessing a good portion of these clubs are on his no-trade list, too.
Before you even get down to what teams may have a legitimate interest in acquiring the player, you're in the single-digits. It's kind of nutty, and I think an understated point of this whole ordeal.
Right now, Bryan Murray's best hope is to continue pitting Anaheim against St. Louis in the bidding, and hoping that Vancouver holds firm on their Ryan Kesler demands.
Oh, and maybe hope Dallas' interest is real, too.
--
Ottawa Senators Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»