Trevor Shackles: Spezza Back to Ottawa? Could Jason Spezza return to Ottawa this summer?

I was never hostile to Spezza. He was a good team mate and a solid member of the community during his entire stay in Ottawa. But, I did not support the idea of the Sens giving him a long term deal.

What was missing most from his game was a leadership quality. Does it really make any sense to bring him back on a young team that is already missing veteran leadership.

But, I still regard Jason Spezza's goal against Montreal as the best play on a Dman that I experienced live.

Spezza seems an ideal candidate for a one year contract with an absurd overpay, solely for the purposes of cap compliance

I was never hostile to Spezza. He was a good team mate and a solid member of the community during his entire stay in Ottawa. But, I did not support the idea of the Sens giving him a long term deal.

What was missing most from his game was a leadership quality. Does it really make any sense to bring him back on a young team that is already missing veteran leadership.

But, I still regard Jason Spezza's goal against Montreal as the best play on a Dman that I experienced live.
- spatso

I remember that goal like it happened yesterday. The most incredible part to me was how he completely undressed Souray and than looked like he switched to slow motion to deke the goalie out of his jock.

I like Spezza and would be happy to see him in a Sens jersey again, especially if it was the last year prior to retirement.

My preference is to just go with the younger guys. Between Colin White, Chris Tierney, JG Pageau, Zach Smith and Logan Brown the team has enough 2nd and 3rd line centers. Let the young guys play.

The Senators should shock the league and do the following:

1. Sign Jason Spezza
2. Sign Erik Karlsson
3. Sign Matt Duchene
4. Sign Ryan Dzingle


Bring the band back together. Ottawa has always been one of my favorite teams and it surts seeing them struggle.

The Senators should shock the league and do the following:

1. Sign Jason Spezza
2. Sign Erik Karlsson
3. Sign Matt Duchene
4. Sign Ryan Dzingle


Bring the band back together. Ottawa has always been one of my favorite teams and it surts seeing them struggle.
- TheUltimateJet

Get Jacques Martin back behind the bench and the insanity would be complete

Not sure why the Senators would do this at this point. Public relations? I don't think Jason Spezza is going to un-sink that ship.

I like Spezza as a person and, earlier in his career, as a tremendously productive center. But he has never been good defensively. In fact, I'd go so far as to say he was lazy defensively. He did a good job improving his faceoff game mid-career but his back-checking and defensive awareness was limited. It was clear to me even in his last year as a Senator that he just didn't like that part of the game and wasn't overly interested in it. Which is where the leadership questions come into play. Jason Spezza is the antithesis to a player like Patrice Bergeron. So why would we want him in a 3rd line center role when we have younger and better options within the org? Off the top of my head - Pageau, Tierney, Chlapik, Norris (maybe in 2020). I realize that 3rd line centers aren't viewed the same as they were 20 years ago but there is still a match-up component to bottom six players.

Move on, Ottawa. You've already stripped the team down and have committed to a full rebuild. No need to load up on new veterans who will serve only to block the mobility of prospects. There is little value-add in bringing back Jason Spezza. It's not like he was some beloved figure like Alfie or Karlsson. Let someone else over-pay him (even $2 mil is over-payment). Just move-on.....

Did this article seriously imply that Spezza has been a leader his entire career? He's a talented player who at times was mistakenly cast into leadership roles, under the false assumption that the most skilled players make natural leaders. Spezza is a classic example of where that's absolutely not the case. For every highlight reel move, there were a half-dozen examples of him missing defensive assignments, refusing to back check, or turning the puck over in dangerous fashion. Not to mention that Tierney, White, and Pageau are all far more effective at centre at this point, and Spezza is absolutely not viable as the centre of a line with two-way/defensive responsibilities.

Enjoy the nostalgia and PR potential of the idea if you want, but objectively there's nothing valuable whatsoever about the idea of bringing in a 35yo/25pts version of Jason Spezza.

Awesome. he can teach all our young guys the art of the blind back-pass giveaway

has ceci re-signed for 6x6 yet?

has ceci re-signed for 6x6 yet?
- Tumbleweed

no but Nylander has signed for 6 x $7M. 27 points, good for 13th on the Leafs last year.

What happened to all the William Nylander commercials? I loved seeing him smile at all Leafs fans. You guys don't love him anymore?

The Senators should shock the league and do the following:

1. Sign Jason Spezza
2. Sign Erik Karlsson
3. Sign Matt Duchene
4. Sign Ryan Dzingle

Bring the band back together. Ottawa has always been one of my favorite teams and it surts seeing them struggle.
- TheUltimateJet

Uncle Eugene is too cheap for it though

Notable Sens' prospects from the last 5 drafts:

2015 NHL Draft
1. Thomas Chabot (1st rd - 18th overall)
2. Colin White (1st rd - 21st overall)
3. Filip Chlapik (2nd rd - 48th overall)
4. Christian Jaros (5th rd - 139 overall)
5. Rudolfs Balcers (5th rd - 142 overall - traded from SJ)

2016 NHL Draft
1. Logan Brown (1st rd - 11th overall)
2. Filip Gustavsson (2nd rd - 55th overall - traded from PIT)
3. Vitaly Abramov (3rd rd - 65th overall - traded from CBJ)
4. Max Lajoie (5th rd - 133rd overall)

2017 NHL Draft
1. Erik Brannstrom (1st rd - 15th overall - traded from VGK)
2. Josh Norris (1st rd - 17th overall - traded from SJ)
3. Alex Formeton (2nd rd - 47th overall)
4. Drake Batherson (4th rd - 121st overall)

2018 NHL Draft
1. Brady Tkachuk (1st - 4th overall)
2. Jacob Bernard-Docker (1st - 26th overall)
3. Jonny Tychonick (2nd rd - 48th overall)

2019 NHL Draft
1. 19th overall
2. 32nd overall
3. 44th overall (from SJ)

The only UFA's or players the Sens should sign (or trade for) are veterans that will:

-help develop the kids
-be a candidate at trade deadline to help playoff bound teams

Notable Sens' prospects from the last 5 drafts:

2015 NHL Draft
1. Thomas Chabot (1st rd - 18th overall)
2. Colin White (1st rd - 21st overall)
3. Filip Chlapik (2nd rd - 48th overall)
4. Christian Jaros (5th rd - 139 overall)
5. Rudolfs Balcers (5th rd - 142 overall - traded from SJ)

2016 NHL Draft
1. Logan Brown (1st rd - 11th overall)
2. Filip Gustavsson (2nd rd - 55th overall - traded from PIT)
3. Vitaly Abramov (3rd rd - 65th overall - traded from CBJ)
4. Max Lajoie (5th rd - 133rd overall)

2017 NHL Draft
1. Erik Brannstrom (1st rd - 15th overall - traded from VGK)
2. Josh Norris (1st rd - 17th overall - traded from SJ)
3. Alex Formeton (2nd rd - 47th overall)
4. Drake Batherson (4th rd - 121st overall)

2018 NHL Draft
1. Brady Tkachuk (1st - 4th overall)
2. Jacob Bernard-Docker (1st - 26th overall)
3. Jonny Tychonick (2nd rd - 48th overall)

2019 NHL Draft
1. 19th overall
2. 32nd overall
3. 44th overall (from SJ)
- AlfieisKing

19th: Kaliev or Suzuki. I think there's a good chance once will be left on the board. Both can put up points. This shouldnt factor into the decision, but having another brother of an opponent could be fun,.

32. Mathew Robertson / Bjornfot. Safer Defenseman. Maybe consider Vlasic in this regard.

44. Foote. More offense.

Notable Sens' prospects from the last 5 drafts:
- AlfieisKing

It's interesting to see how the prospects they've acquired have essentially filled in the blanks over the past couple of drafts, especially in 2016 and 2017. Even just in terms of 1st/2nd round picks from these drafts, they've pulled in 11 players from the past 4 drafts... plus another 3 picks in the coming draft, and as many as 8 and 4 in the next 2 drafts. With that kind of concentration, I really hope that they consider the possibility of moving up in the draft if they identify a player they really want, because depth and just filling roster spots is not really going to be a problem for this team anytime soon.

Thoughts on Roy as potential coach?

I didn’t follow him much in Colorado, but his record seemed strong. Twitter seems to think it’s a bad idea, but a lot of the analysts on TSN and Sportsnet seem to think it’s a good move

It's interesting to see how the prospects they've acquired have essentially filled in the blanks over the past couple of drafts, especially in 2016 and 2017. Even just in terms of 1st/2nd round picks from these drafts, they've pulled in 11 players from the past 4 drafts... plus another 3 picks in the coming draft, and as many as 8 and 4 in the next 2 drafts. With that kind of concentration, I really hope that they consider the possibility of moving up in the draft if they identify a player they really want, because depth and just filling roster spots is not really going to be a problem for this team anytime soon.
- khawk

Agree

Sens need quality over quantity moving forward

Thoughts on Roy as potential coach?

I didn’t follow him much in Colorado, but his record seemed strong. Twitter seems to think it’s a bad idea, but a lot of the analysts on TSN and Sportsnet seem to think it’s a good move
- sensarmy_11

Would be a huge step forward. Roy brings passion and a will to win. All kinds of coaches know how to chalk out the x's and o's of NHL play. But with a young team like the Sens you want a guy who can help the kids find their best within themselves.

More important, Roy is far too strong a personality to accept the crap fed up by Melnyk.

I always thought Cirque and Desmerais were the strongest money option behind the proposals to buy the Sens and develop LeBretton. Roy would certainly be the kind of guy that would reflect their approach. I just can't see Roy signing up for even a short term stay of Melnyk's BS.

Thoughts on Roy as potential coach?

I didn’t follow him much in Colorado, but his record seemed strong. Twitter seems to think it’s a bad idea, but a lot of the analysts on TSN and Sportsnet seem to think it’s a good move
- sensarmy_11

A buddy is a big avs fan, and he thought the idea was hilarious, in a bad way.

If i remember, roy ddin't leave on the best terms in Colorado?

A buddy is a big avs fan, and he thought the idea was hilarious, in a bad way.

If i remember, roy ddin't leave on the best terms in Colorado?
- david22

I thought I remember reading that he was very “old school” and didn’t mesh well with the young guys. Didn’t believe in analytics, still tried to coach like it was the 90s.

I’m definitely not keen on the idea.....that being said, saw a couple of reports saying Martin is the front runner, not super happy about that either.

I thought I remember reading that he was very “old school” and didn’t mesh well with the young guys. Didn’t believe in analytics, still tried to coach like it was the 90s.

I’m definitely not keen on the idea.....that being said, saw a couple of reports saying Martin is the front runner, not super happy about that either.
- sensarmy_11

Watching Blues/Sharks and methinks the Sharks may have topped out. Long term this team is old and huge changes are on the horizon. Perhaps the 2020 1st round pick to the Sens might be more attractive than first thought.

The odds on the Sharks resigning Karlsson have dropped significantly.

I thought I remember reading that he was very “old school” and didn’t mesh well with the young guys. Didn’t believe in analytics, still tried to coach like it was the 90s.

I’m definitely not keen on the idea.....that being said, saw a couple of reports saying Martin is the front runner, not super happy about that either.
- sensarmy_11

Not a fan of Martin as well. Was he really defensive as a coach?

Watching Blues/Sharks and methinks the Sharks may have topped out. Long term this team is old and huge changes are on the horizon. Perhaps the 2020 1st round pick to the Sens might be more attractive than first thought.

The odds on the Sharks resigning Karlsson have dropped significantly.
- spatso

He's hurting out there. It will be very interesting to see what happens to him in free agency.