Jason Spezza intends on playing next season, but it won’t be with the Dallas Stars. That time has passed given the emergence of some of the Stars’ young forward prospects, and the declining production from the veteran. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required) caught up with Spezza though, and asked him if he would consider a return to the only other franchise he has suited up for:
It’s still early in this process but I have a good relationship with the people in Ottawa that are still there. It would be high on my list of considerations that’s for sure. I left there on good terms. It definitely keeps the door open. It’s food for thought, for sure. But it’s so early in the process, we’ll see.
LeBrun suggests the idea that Spezza could return to provide the Senators with some leadership as they navigate through their rebuild with a roster that as of now is almost completely bereft of effective veterans. Even Cody Ceci, the de facto leader on the blue line—unless of course 22-year old Thomas Chabot can already be considered that—doesn’t have a contract for next season and has an interesting arbitration case ahead of him.
That doesn’t mean Spezza is heading to Ottawa, but it is interesting that he would consider a team at the beginning of a rebuild given he still is without a ton of playoff success. The 35-year old has played 1,065 regular season games in his career but just 80 in the playoffs, 36 of which came in his first few years in the NHL. Spezza notes to LeBrun that he wants to go to the “best team that has the best chance to win” but that he also has a large family to consider, referencing his wife and four children. Born in Toronto, Spezza spent more than a decade playing in Ottawa and is one of the most productive players in franchise history.
Well, at least *somebody* is helping Ottawa try to get up to the salary floor…
He’ll play for anyone willing to give him a contract and ice time at this point.. He is a huge liability everywhere but the PP. He still has great senses and hockey IQ but he’s usually the slowest player on the ice now and he never wins puck battles along the boards. He’s no longer good enough to contribute to a contending team..
I guess he’s OK with going back now that there’s absolutely no pressure for him to do well on the team as is stands now. Bravo, Jason.