It feels like just yesterday Jacques Martin inserted a young, untested rookie into his line up for a must win game in the Eastern Conference Finals against the New Jersey Devils.
That rookie would score a goal and an assist on that night ten years ago, leading the Ottawa Senators to a memorable win in a series they would go on to lose in a heartbreaking Game 7. Of course that “untested rookie” was Jason Spezza and today he turns 30 years old.
My, how those last ten years have zipped by. Spezza is now this team’s undisputed number one centre and a key piece in the Ottawa line up. Spezza has played 611 games at the NHL level, racking up an impressive 621 points along the way. He’s also hovered pretty close to that point a game average in his 56 playoff games, picking up 17 goals and 52 points.
And depending on who you talk to, Spezza is likely the next Captain of this team when Daniel Alfredsson decides to hang ‘em up.
Spezza is coming off one of his most frustrating seasons as a pro. After appearing in the team’s first 5 games in the lockout shortened season, Spezza was taken out of the lineup and forced to undergo back surgery that would sideline him for the remainder of the regular season. A couple setbacks during rehab, including a torn meniscus, made the process even more frustrating for the long time Senator.
He was able to return to the lineup for the final three games of the Sens playoff run but clearly wasn’t playing at 100%.
Jason Spezza is undoubtedly heading into one of the most important off seasons of his career. After an injury-riddled campaign, the Ottawa Senators need Jason Spezza back and at 100% if they’re going to become a legitimate contender next season. Spezza has two years left on a deal that comes with a $7,000,000 a year cap hit. He’ll earn $5 mil this year and $4 million in the final year of the deal.
While Spezza trade talk seems to be an annual summer tradition in the Nation’s Capital, it’s almost always entirely unfounded. Spezza is this team’s number one centre and is critical to their success next season.
Happy Birthday Jason!
