Once the Kesler domino fell, it was presumed that Spezza talks would ramp up thereafter and that Ottawa’s captain would be the next center asset to move by the end of Friday night’s first round.
While Spezza still remains Senators property, the organization may have to wait until July 1st – similar to how the Senators acquired Bobby Ryan following Alfie’s decision to spurn them for Detroit – so that the market for market for Paul Stastny’s service ends and teams can circle back on Spezza.
One of the teams expected to circle back on Spezza will the St. Louis Blues writes Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
“In their search for a center, the Blues are still hopeful of making a trade with Ottawa. Talks with the Senators have moved at a snail’s pace, so it’s uncertain if and when a deal will be made, but the club has not walked away from that option.
“Meanwhile, after reaching out to Stastny during the league’s free-agency courting period last week, the Blues must now hold their breath until Tuesday, the actual start of free agency, to learn of Stastny’s decision.”
Right now the Senators are in a holding pattern – hoping that the Blues or another team improve their offers once the UFA market settles and they need to address their need at center.
St. Louis isn’t the only team that’s still being linked to the Senators however.
STL and DAL are the two teams who currently have interest in OTT’s Jason Spezza. Doesn’t sound like a deal is close.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 30, 2014
For what it’s worth, apparently Jim Nill was on Dallas/Fort Worth radio station The Ticket 1310 and confirmed the Stars level of interest in a Spezza deal.
Jim Nill on @dfwticket reiterates he’s wanting a No. 2 center, and that the defense isn’t the concern it once was.
— Brandon Worley (@brandonworley) June 30, 2014
Jim Nill just confirmed the #Stars strong interest in Spezza. Said as long as a hockey deal can be made, he’s interested. — Greg Smith (@Moved_To_Apathy) June 30, 2014
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThere are also some rumblings that talks with Nashville could be resurrected, but with the way that Preds GM David Poile took a butane torch and lit up Jason Spezza’s sense of entitlement, it’s hard to believe the Preds will be able or willing to butter Spezza up and get him to waive his NTC to go there, especially with Sean Avery throwing in his own two cents.
No SH$T #Spezza said NO to living in that dump city #Nashville — Sean Avery (@imseanavery) June 29, 2014
Revisiting Brad May on Spezza Remember when Brad May went on Sportnet’s ‘Hockey Central’ and indicated that “Spezza never asked to be traded… He wanted a commitment from ownership to spend the necessary money to win… If they can’t do that he would like to go somewhere that wants to win”? Well guess who Brad May was golfing with in Ireland recently?
Back home in Sweden again. After an amazing time in Ireland with great guys and amazing golf. @maydayhockey @commie22 @j_markstrom — Erik Karlsson (@ErikKarlsson65) June 29, 2014
Geez, I wonder who May’s source on all the Spezza stuff has been…
Binghamton Depth…
The Binghamton Senators roster is riddled with impending RFA and UFAs whose future was clouded with the Senators and according to Murray Pam, the Senators will be moving on from a number of them.
#Sens are cutting org. ties with Ben Blood, Corey Cowick, Tyler Eckford, Wacey Hamilton, Nathan Lawson and 2007 1st rd pick Jim O’Brien.
— Murray Pam (@Pammerhockey) June 30, 2014
None of these decisions are shocking, these players are inconsequential organizational depth guys. I suppose the decision to move on from Cowick will disappoint many who have followed his career closely from his days with the Ottawa 67s, but if he didn’t play for the local junior team, no one would blink at today’s news.
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