There’s something to be said about Jason Spezza. When the man puts in the effort, the results improve dramatically. If you were to use one word to describe Spezza’s career with the Ottawa Senators, that word would be growth. Whether it’s making a concerted effort to improve on the defensive side of the game or using the past three weeks to nail his first public response since word leaked that he wasn’t pleased with the critical treatment that he received from the fans and media, he entered this man’s league as a boy and he’s now a man with a boyish giggle. If only he could learn how to perfect the Elliotte Friedman look of gravitas when he knows that the cameras are on him…
Anyways, I digress…
Yesterday’s address was everything that you could have hoped for as a fan. He said the right things and he said them with assertion. Even though I assume that Jason replayed yesterday’s statement over and over in his head and had some help from his representatives and the Senators organization, his 6 minute speech was rehearsed but it was good enough for me.
“Going forward, I’ve got no problem talking about it today, but I’ve got a no-trade now, I’m here, I’m committed and I don’t plan on talking about this again. This isn’t an ongoing thing. I’m focused on winning here now, I’m focused on becoming a better player.”
Hopefully it isn’t an ongoing thing. Despite what some others may believe.
A Thought On Nick Foligno
Now that Nick Foligno has resigned with the Ottawa Senators — to the tune of 2 years, $2.4 million — questions pertaining to his contract will now be replaced by questions as to where he fits in. Ironically, Foligno’s placement in Ottawa’s lineup is dependent upon where another one of Ottawa’s remaining RFA’s fits in. Even though Peter Regin hasn’t come to terms on a new extension yet, it’s going to be interesting to see whether or not Cory Clouston elects to keep Regin on the wing or revert him back to his natural center position.
Although Regin demonstrated that he could put up some points centering a line with Alexei Kovalev, much of the Ottawa Interwebs are abuzz with the way that he ended last season playing the left wing on a line with Jason Spezza. If Clouston decides to keep Regin and Spezza together, Milan Michalek will likely land on the second line and Jarkko Ruutu will find himself alongside Chris Kelly and Chris Neil on the third line. It’s hard to imagine that management would be willing to absorb Foligno’s $1.2 million cap hit to play him on the fourth line with Jesse Winchester so I wouldn’t be surprised if Bryan Murray evaluates this littany of bottom six forwards during the preseason and addresses the situation with a trade.
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