GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Montreal Canadiens - 3:00pm ET - Feb. 21st, 2009

Fact of the matter is, Spezza is not a 7 million dollar player. Spezza has not proven he can be the go to guy. Spezza's production has gone down in 2 consistant years now. Spezza also has a bad back that could very well be effecting his play, and he has had it for a while. Thats a lose/lose right there. A center with a 7 year deal who may not be able to stay healthy, and a center with a 7 year deal who decided to show up when he wants... you make the call.

Neely4Life wrote:

asq2 wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:

asq2 wrote:

Neely4Life wrote:Spezza isnt a top center in the NHL. He is a good offensive guy, thats about it.

We can do the whole list of centers who are better than Spezza again, but we have been there.

Ah yes, the good ol' fashioned "flavour of the month" list.

Spezza was 6th in scoring last season. He's a top player in this league.

If scoring was all that mattered we would have 3 or 4 cups.

Alfi is slowing down and so is Spezza's production... they are directly related.

Has Spezza proven he can play without Alfi and produce? Everyone knows the answer to this one, dont pretend it is anything but no.

Put up 55 points in his rookie season without him.

Started out strongly to the 2005-2006 season without playing with him.

His rookie season he was loaded with tallent around him.

Ok, let me rephrase since you are going to nit pick every point to try and defend a 7 million dollar bomb of a contract. Has he proved he can be the go to guy? Has he proved that he can make others around him better? Has he proved that he can be counted on like a 7 million dollar player should be?

Is it possible to talk about something else other than Spezza. I think we all got your point on where you stand and for the most part its an agree to disagree opinion.

I didnt start the Spezza convo. Simly replied to a post and we have been discussing it ever since.

Like it or not, the decision that is going to be made about Spezza and his contract is prob the main issue in Ottawa right now.

Ultimately, my position is this:

Spezza has already proven he can produce at the NHL level and can be a dominant player offensively and effective defensively.

Historically, many other centres (such as Lecavalier and Datsyuk) have struggled at Spezza age and grown into unbelievable players later on.

My feeling is that if we deal Spezza, we will regret it immensely one or two years down the line.

In addition, Spezza's value is low right now so it'd be a terrible time to move him.

If Spezza is here past this year, no matter what, he is here for the next 6 years.

The team will basically be in his control because no one can really do anything about his play, his attitude, and everything else that will come with an NTC for the next 6 years. After the year he is having with the brand new deal, why would you not do everything to avoid the situtation that could arise?

Neely4Life wrote:I didnt start the Spezza convo. Simly replied to a post and we have been discussing it ever since.

Like it or not, the decision that is going to be made about Spezza and his contract is prob the main issue in Ottawa right now.

Understandable but it seems to go on and on in nearly every post that comes up.

I never bring up Spezza, I try to avoid it, but when the convo starts, Im def all out, haha.

Sorry if it gets anoying guys, but this is going to be the guy that will make or break the Sens, this is the biggest concern of any Sens fan, or at least it should be.

Hmm here are some names I would accept for spezz:

Parise, Brown, Kopitar, Kovalchuk, Semin, Staal, Pahneuf, Green, Lecavalier, Thornton ....

Any others?

OMG, Brown here in Ottawa at 3.2 for the next 5 years.... WOW.

asq2 wrote:Ultimately, my position is this:

Spezza has already proven he can produce at the NHL level and can be a dominant player offensively and effective defensively.

Historically, many other centres (such as Lecavalier and Datsyuk) have struggled at Spezza age and grown into unbelievable players later on.

My feeling is that if we deal Spezza, we will regret it immensely one or two years down the line.

In addition, Spezza's value is low right now so it'd be a terrible time to move him.

Effective defensively? Take off the rose coloured glasses! Mike Eastwood on the Team 1200 tore him apart the last 2 games for his defensive and non-commitment to it.

HowieMorenz wrote:Hmm here are some names I would accept for spezz:

Parise, Brown, Kopitar, Kovalchuk, Semin, Staal, Pahneuf, Green, Lecavalier, Thornton ....

Any others?

Nash, Getzlaf........still thinking about others.

HowieMorenz wrote:Hmm here are some names I would accept for spezz:

Parise, Brown, Kopitar, Kovalchuk, Semin, Staal, Pahneuf, Green, Lecavalier, Thornton ....

Any others?

Maybe we try to get a top flight goaltender or defensmen instead of an offensive threat and then address the center position in the off-season with all the cap space.

If you are going with a younger team next year and more of a rebuild, Elliott is your guy with Auld being the perfect backup.

I think our goaltending is fine for now.

JeffJo wrote:

asq2 wrote:Ultimately, my position is this:

Spezza has already proven he can produce at the NHL level and can be a dominant player offensively and effective defensively.

Historically, many other centres (such as Lecavalier and Datsyuk) have struggled at Spezza age and grown into unbelievable players later on.

My feeling is that if we deal Spezza, we will regret it immensely one or two years down the line.

In addition, Spezza's value is low right now so it'd be a terrible time to move him.

Effective defensively? Take off the rose coloured glasses! Mike Eastwood on the Team 1200 tore him apart the last 2 games for his defensive and non-commitment to it.

If you read again, you'll see that I said Spezza "can" be effective defensively.

HowieMorenz wrote:Hmm here are some names I would accept for spezz:

Parise, Brown, Kopitar, Kovalchuk, Semin, Staal, Pahneuf, Green, Lecavalier, Thornton ....

Any others?

No on the bolded ones, and quite possibly Phaneuf.

Lecavalier's contract is horrendous and Thornton disappears in the playoffs.

There are a number of other names out there I'd accept for him, but those names aren't moving any time soon so the discussion is moot.

Neely4Life wrote:If you are going with a younger team next year and more of a rebuild, Elliott is your guy with Auld being the perfect backup.

I think our goaltending is fine for now.

Agreed. And if you look at the peanuts we look to be spending on goaltending and defence next season, we could potentially have the space to make a play for JayBo.

Who knows, Murray has to deal with one thing at a time. Right now its the deadline, then its what to do with Spezza.

Neely4Life wrote:Who knows, Murray has to deal with one thing at a time. Right now its the deadline, then its what to do with Spezza.

3 games ago it was all about Heatley. Now suddenly three good games from him and three poor ones from Spezza and it's back to Spezza?

Heatley is the highest paid player in hockey this season.