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There have been a lot of rumblings coming out of Ottawa regarding the potential for captain Jason Spezza to be on the trade block. It's more than speculation now, Spezza wants out.
Speaking after the GMs met in New York on Wednesday, Senators GM Bryan Murray said that Spezza is looking for a fresh start, which means the Senators will be looking to trade their highest-paid player.
At GM meetings, Bryan Murray confirms Jason Spezza has "requested we give him a chance to go elsewhere." More later.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 11, 2014
If that seems like it should draw some interest from around the league, apparently it has.
Murray says a couple teams have shown serious interest. OTT's preference is to "send him somewhere we don't have to play him every night."
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 11, 2014
Spezza will be a free agent after next season anyway when his deal that comes with a $7 million salary cap hit expires. The odds of him being traded were already high and only going up, now it seems like fait accompli.
From the sounds of it you shouldn't expect any of the Atlantic Division teams to be the ultimate landing spot but if the deal is right, then perhaps Murray would budge on that desire.
Drafted second overall by the Senators in 2001, the 30-year-old Spezza played 75 games last season and finished with 23 goals, 43 assists. That came following injuries that cost him nearly all of the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. In 2011-12 he had 84 points in 80 games.
His cap hit might be a bit high but with it expiring at the end of the season, it could entice a few more teams to look to add Spezza. He's a veteran, a leader and still a pretty effective scorer that would be a big post to any team looking for top-six help, especially seeing how he plays down the middle.
