The Center Of Attention

<![CDATA[On Monday, we discussed the rumor that Dion Phaneuf was on the trading block and looked at his potential fit in Edmonton. Dion fills a major hole in Edmonton, the top-pairing defender, but he isn't the only guy that is on the block that can help the Oilers in a major way. Ottawa captain Jason Spezza is on the block as well.

The source of this? Back in early March, the fourth period reported that Ottawa was indeed shopping the captain, while on Sunday afternoon Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos tweeted out that he was hearing the same thing, that Spezza is being shopped, mainly to western teams. Two teams that will be hot on Spezza's trail are Anaheim and St. Louis, both in need of help at the center position, and both close to winning a Stanley Cup, in Anaheim's case, still in the hunt this year.

What about Edmonton, could the Oilers, who have Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Sam Gagner, Boyd Gordon and Mark Arcobello already at the center spot, be interested?

Does He Fit?:

This is not as obvious as Dion, but the answer is still the same, of course there is a fit. The Oilers’ center depth chart is not very good. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has a ton of potential and offensively does a lot of things well. His defensive game is improving, but is still not up to top-line level. Sam Gagner was a disaster this year, while Boyd Gordon is a good bottom six guy and nothing more. Mark Arcobello and Anton Lander can’t be trusted for anything more than line four right now.

The Oilers don’t have a center that can post up elite offensive numbers and play a solid two-way game while going against the other team’s top options. Jason Spezza has been doing that for years in Ottawa, and would give Edmonton something they really haven’t had at center since Doug Weight left town many moons ago.

Spezza isn’t a huge center, but he’s big enough to battle with the big guns of the Pacific division, and has much more experience than anyone else on the Oiler roster right now.

Spezza’s got a nice combo, he has great offensive skills and could be an unreal set-up man for Taylor Hall, is proven against tough opposition and his advanced stats are pretty good as well. He’d be the Oilers’ best center in over a decade, and would improve the team in a major way.

Spezza would be a huge upgrade over Sam Gagner, and likely would take over as the top-line center, giving the Oilers the flexibility to place RNH on line two and let him go against the soft opponents. It would put everyone in their right spots and would give the Oilers some needed strength down the middle.

You need great center play to win in the NHL, and Edmonton simply does not have it right now, but Jason Spezza would fix that in a big way.

So, Whats The Cost?:

Ottawa is going to want a lot in return. Bruce Garrioch speculated that it will cost a top-six forward, a good prospect and a first round pick to get Spezza out of Ottawa. From Edmonton, that’s a hefty price that starts with the third overall pick. I can’t see Edmonton giving up the third overall and more for a player, and would have to think the 2015 pick would be offered instead.

As for a top-six forward, Sam Gagner makes sense because he is a center, but his value isn’t up to par here. Nail Yakupov and Jordan Eberle will likely be talked about pieces for this part of the trade.

Prospect wise, the Sens will likely want either Oscar Klefbom or Martin Marincin in return, as Edmonton doesn’t have any forward prospects of real note, and likely won’t be willing to deal Darnell Nurse. Dillon Simpson, who could be close to the NHL, could be a target for the Sens as well.

I’d be offering the 2015 first round pick, Sam Gagner and Oscar Klefbom here, and that sounds like a lot for a guy that will be a UFA on July 1st, 2015. That’s what it is going to cost however, and Ottawa will get it.

Overall Thoughts:

Jason Spezza is a borderline elite center who produces offense and can handle the tough opposition. That’s something very important, and something Edmonton simply does not have. They’ll need a guy like Spezza in order to have success moving forward, so they might as well get the guy himself.

That said, Spezza will have say in where he goes, and likely will not want to play on a rebuilding team like Edmonton. Plus, the St. Louis Blues, who were interested before, will likely go hard after Spezza after their one and done disaster in these playoffs. They, and the Anaheim Ducks, have more assets to give that would interest Ottawa.

Jason Spezza would be a great fit in Edmonton, but I can’t see a deal getting done here. I can’t see Spezza being interested in coming to Edmonton, and I can’t see Edmonton mortgaging a major part of the future for a one year rental, it just doesn’t add up.

Spezza to Edmonton would be a great get for Craig MacTavish, but it’ a highly unlikely one. That said, I still suspect he’ll make a phone call and inquire, as he should, but the factors are against a move like this.