Spezza is an old dog! With only one year left on his contract turning him into Yzerman sounds like a stretch. Ottawa has tried several head coaches, sending him back to the minors (when he was a rookie) and he STILL does not play defence!
- Woowy

He's 31. He's got 7-8 years left to play.

Steve Yzerman won his first Stanley Cup in 1997....when he was 32.

Ken Hitchcock and his relationship with Brett Hull is all the evidence you need! There is Joe Thorton, Ryan Kesler, and Mike Richards all available. These are all more Hitchcock friendly players. With St. Louis trading their first round pick in the Ryan Miller trade, they will not be willing to trade young assets for a player with only one year left on his contract. Ottawa is currently looking like they are starting a rebuild anyways. Having lost Alfredson last year, Michalek and Hemsky being free agents this year, Spezza wanting out of town, rumours swirling that Bobby Ryan is available and Anderson being a free agent after next year...

I know Karlsson is a great defence man but the cupboards are getting a little bare!
- Woowy

You're the greatest
1. Spezza is better than any of the names you listed offensively (something most contenders want to add to their teams)
2. St. Louis is in a win-now mode, prospects are expendable.
3. Michalek is coming back according to BM, ( I don't know why )
4. Spezza didn't want out of Ottawa, he wants the team to pay up so they can contend.
5. Ryan is getting signed long-term with the team on July 1st.
6. We got Lehner, you can have Anderson.
7. "Our cupboards are getting a little bare" Are you (frank)ing serious? One of the main reasons Melnyk isn't spending is because of the strong young core of offensive talent we got. Turris, Zibanejad, Lazar, Puempel...

He's 31. He's got 7-8 years left to play.

Steve Yzerman won his first Stanley Cup in 1997....when he was 32.
- the_terror

that hall of famer to not hall of famer comparison

that hall of famer to not hall of famer comparison
- Jurco_28

Also fail to mention the depth on those great teams Yzerman had.

from the fan base that talk about frans nielson like he's jonathan toews.
- sensarmy_11

???

Makes no sense???

You're the greatest
1. Spezza is better than any of the names you listed offensively (something most contenders want to add to their teams)
2. St. Louis is in a win-now mode, prospects are expendable.
3. Michalek is coming back according to BM, ( I don't know why )
4. Spezza didn't want out of Ottawa, he wants the team to pay up so they can contend.
5. Ryan is getting signed long-term with the team on July 1st.
6. We got Lehner, you can have Anderson.
7. "Our cupboards are getting a little bare" Are you (frank)ing serious? One of the main reasons Melnyk isn't spending is because of the strong young core of offensive talent we got. Turris, Zibanejad, Lazar, Puempel...
- TheCalSen

85% Bubba. Still see Thornton as the better offensive player than Spezza....but I didn't look up PPG stats so I could be wrong.

throw buffalo on there too. so thats 5
- Jurco_28

My bet is Buffalo isn't on that list. Spez knows damn well the Tim Murray isn't a fan and would never trade for him anyway. So that would just be wasting a team on his list. Essentially by not including Buffalo, he now has a list of 11 teams.

The best plan for Bryan is trade away all players who's name starts with s.....
- JimmyBeem

Spezza, Jason
Silfverberg, Jacob
Stephan Noeson


look out Smith & Shane Prince!

Spezza, Jason
Silfverberg, Jacob
Stephan Noeson


look out Smith & Shane Prince!
- corbechev

So the whole last name, first name thing isn't regarded

My bet is Buffalo isn't on that list. Spez knows damn well the Tim Murray isn't a fan and would never trade for him anyway. So that would just be wasting a team on his list. Essentially by not including Buffalo, he now has a list of 11 teams.
- SensHero

To be honest... I would love to see the list of teams that are interested.

What is the asking price?

I just can't see a lot of teams giving up a lot to get him.

Ottawa doesn't have a lot of leverage.

To be honest... I would love to see the list of teams that are interested.

What is the asking price?

I just can't see a lot of teams giving up a lot to get him.

Ottawa doesn't have a lot of leverage.
- jimmc7722

Considering the fact that NYI gave up two 1st overall picks, and Matt Moulson for Tomas Vanek would go against your comment. Spezza > Vanek, the return will also be considerably bigger bud.

So the whole last name, first name thing isn't regarded
- TheCalSen

Open the floodgates.. if there is an S in your name you are outa here..

Hey Colins Greensnings come here brah, bring your pal Jareds Cowsans with you..

Open the floodgates.. if there is an S in your name you are outa here..

Hey Colins Greensnings come here brah, bring your pal Jareds Cowsans with you..
- corbechev

Further to this, Erik will now be known as Erik Karltton

There is a decent list available. They strike out on Spezza, they simply go to the next name on the list. This will probably happen if the price for Spezza is too high as well.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

yeah but Spezza is the best scoring/age option.

Considering the fact that NYI gave up two 1st overall picks, and Matt Moulson for Tomas Vanek would go against your comment. Spezza > Vanek, the return will also be considerably bigger bud.
- TheCalSen

No they didn't BUD...

To be honest... I would love to see the list of teams that are interested.

What is the asking price?

I just can't see a lot of teams giving up a lot to get him.

Ottawa doesn't have a lot of leverage.
- jimmc7722

they don't ...

except that the market determines the price anyway. There are bound to be a few interested teams that Spezza would go to and Murray would deal with.

You're the greatest
1. Spezza is better than any of the names you listed offensively (something most contenders want to add to their teams)
2. St. Louis is in a win-now mode, prospects are expendable.
3. Michalek is coming back according to BM, ( I don't know why )
4. Spezza didn't want out of Ottawa, he wants the team to pay up so they can contend.
5. Ryan is getting signed long-term with the team on July 1st.
6. We got Lehner, you can have Anderson.
7. "Our cupboards are getting a little bare" Are you (frank)ing serious? One of the main reasons Melnyk isn't spending is because of the strong young core of offensive talent we got. Turris, Zibanejad, Lazar, Puempel...
- TheCalSen

Then why is he leaving...

Spezza wants out...

No different than Iggy, and Sundin, etc...

It's good for Ottawa... try and cash in while you can!!!

Then why is he leaving...

Spezza wants out...

No different than Iggy, and Sundin, etc...

It's good for Ottawa... try and cash in while you can!!!
- jimmc7722

I agree....seems to be a lot of sugar coating going around for various reasons, but I think enough has been said.

that hall of famer to not hall of famer comparison
- Jurco_28

Hard to make that comparison now obviously. If Spezza goes to a winner and helps them get a couple Stanley Cups, and keeps his point average intact, who can honestly say if he will or won't get in? Obviously now he doesn't have it, but a couple of Stanley Cups and a 1,000pt career might be enough.

Players have gotten in for less.

But it wasn't my point. A guy earlier said it was too late for Spezza to become like Yzerman, and my point was that Yzerman didn't become like Yzerman until he was about Spezza's age. So there ya go.

Alright time for some World Cup action.

they don't ...

except that the market determines the price anyway. There are bound to be a few interested teams that Spezza would go to and Murray would deal with.
- Aetherial

And all you need to start a bidding war are two interested teams. I contend that there are two very good teams in the West that figure Spezza might be the piece that pushes them over the edge. So if they're willing to go toe-to-toe, then I'm fairly comfortable saying that the market will peak high for Spezza.

So we assume the western canadian teams are all on Spezza's list, then we have:

FLA
CBJ
NSH
NYI
EDM
CAL
VAN
WPG
XXX
XXX

And that the last two spots are made up of two of Carolina, Buffalo, New Jersey, and Phoenix....
- TommyDeVito

man, if Phoenix is not on his list, I'd like to see a package put together for Keith Yandle and Henrik Samuelsson and possibly Vermette (as a 2LC/3LC).

That would have Phoenix with Spezza, Riberio and Hanzel ..... and Ottawa with Turris, Vermette and Zbad .....

imagine a third line of Samuelsson Zbad and Lazar on sheltered minutes..... fast, hard to play against and all grooming for the second line role that they should evolve into.

Hope_Smoke ‏@Hope_Smoke 43s

Friedman also said Spezza will not play for another Canadian team.
- Travis Yost

And this is why I say he's a little B**ch.

It's probably true that part of the reason he wants to leave is because Eugene won't spend and Ottawa won't be a contender for a long time. The other part, considering his no trade list, is plainly obvious.

Spezza wants to live a live of anonymity and collect his money. Instead of changing his game a bit and actually back checking and trying defensively, he'd rather run away.

The ONLY reason Spezza has the offensive numbers he does is because he cheats. He's constantly on the wrong side of the puck. He's playing junior in the NHL. It worked for a few years when he played with Alfie and Heatley cause his line was in the other team's end all the time. Give him anyone other than star wingers and you can really see the deficiencies in his game.

In Canada, people will call him out for cheating. In the US, as long as he puts up points, no one will care.

These not trade lists have got to stop. These guys already have guaranteed contracts. Time for Gm's and the league to take their heads out of their asses and put an end to these clauses. You sign a guaranteed contract you get traded where ever the club sees fit.
- Iggysbff

Or a secondary clause where if you ask to be traded your no trade clause is void. Shouldn't be able to ask to be traded, and then say, only to this one Team though.

man, if Phoenix is not on his list, I'd like to see a package put together for Keith Yandle and Henrik Samuelsson and possibly Vermette (as a 3LC).

That would have Phoenix with Spezza, Riberio and Hanzel ..... and Ottawa with Turris, Zbad and Vermette
- GadesnSens

I'd rather get Hazel. The guy is a warrior. I have never bought any of the rumours that Yandle will get dealt anywhere, but would love to see him as part of a package to come here. I won't bring up Ekman-Larsson for obvious reasons.