On locker cleanout day, when someone wondered if he’s getting tired of being the lightning rod for criticism of this team, Spezza did not shake off the talk as he has in the past.
“Yeah, a little bit,” he said. “But there’s not much you can do, and there’s not much to really get into.
“It’s definitely trying at times.”
That stated, he’s not likely to be demanding a trade like his former winger.
“I’ve persevered my whole career,” Spezza said. “I’ll always continue to do the same.”
Whether it had anything to do with his back problems, Spezza had a horrible start to the season. After returning in late January from a knee injury that sidelined him for six weeks, he was back to his point-producing self. He finished second in team scoring despite missing 22 games.
Seven playoff points
“I found the break helped me mentally, after having a bad start, maybe helped me get in a better frame of mind and regroup for the second half of the year,” said Spezza. “It definitely helped me in that sense.”
Spezza had a goal and six assists in the six-game series with the Penguins. His most costly turnover was in Game 4 at the Pittsburgh blue line and it led directly to a Sidney Crosby goal. It was not the only mistake in the 7-4 loss, just the one remembered and harped on most.
“It’s tough whenever you lose, you’re never happy,” said Spezza, who is much more of a team player than Heatley or Yashin ever was. “I would have liked to have scored a couple more goals. I had a lot of chances and thought I created a lot. We were real close and I wish I could have put the puck in the net a couple of more times. It’s frustrating when you lose out in the first round, for sure.”
If he is asked, Spezza will decline the opportunity to represent Canada at the world championship in Germany because his wife is expecting their first baby.
So the next hockey he plays will be in October. For the Senators.
While coach Cory Clouston said his No. 1 centre was “overall, pretty good” this season, GM Bryan Murray is unlikely to make another off-season blockbuster.
“He is what he is,” said Murray. “You accept it. We hope that as he continues to play this game he’ll do little things a little different and better, but he’s a good player. And you don’t go find that type of player very often in the NHL.”
Spezza is comfortable in the go-to role. The one that comes with credit and blame.
“Wherever I play and whenever I play, I want to be the guy on the ice,” he said. “Whether it’s summer hockey or the NHL, you want to be the guy that’s looked upon and has the puck. I’m a guy that wants to be that guy.”
And he still wants to be that guy in Ottawa. Despite what people say.
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