Captain Conundrum

With the Ottawa Senators season long since over, they've had ample time to reflect and the trade rumors have begun to gain momentum like Ray Emery cruising down the 417. The most speculated of these is of course their captain Jason Spezza and what the future holds for number 19. The fact that he is captain may be contentious in itself but the fact is when he's healthy he's a point a game player, one of the best face off men and play makers in the league and an elite forwards aren't exactly in the bargain bin. Suitors have emerged such as the San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Anaheim Ducks and the New York Rangers (because that's just what they do) but is there anyone who can give Ottawa a solid return?

Now, I've never been Spezza's biggest supporter and am not totally opposed to trading him, IF the price is right. And that's the problem facing GM Bryan Murray. What is fair value for him, and how do you replace his impact on the team? Who takes those key draws late in games or runs the power play down low? That's not to say his game is without flaw. Countless times I've seen his infamous back pass to...nobody in particular, or watched other top centermen beat him to the net in his own end. However his defensive game has improved and often times this season it was his wingers or Ottawa's young defensive core that were to blame in their own end.

It's funny that he once again finds himself the center, (no pun intended) of controversy as when he came into the league Jacques Martin was afraid to play him because of his defensive inexperience. As he grew other faults were found and he was much maligned for the teams struggles for no particular reason.

The post- Alfredsson era was going to be an adjustment regardless and clearly did not start well in the nations capital but the loss of Sergi Gonchar may have hurt them every bit as much as it was the costly turn overs and mistakes in coverage in their own end that more often than not resulted in the puck going in the wrong net. Their goaltending which stole games last year was very average and their young core just seemed directionless at times. One can certainly hold leadership accountable and as captain Spezza must shoulder his share of the blame but he certainly is the only one at fault.

It wasn't all that long ago that Spezza was setting Dany Heatly up for back to back fifty goal season and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals. I don't recall a lot of people calling for his head during those years. What Spezza needs and may have found with late season addition Ales Hemsky is a top six forward to play with. When Milan Michalek was healthy the other year he certainly fit the bill and both had solid seasons but that hasn't been the case of late and with Michalek's contract up perhaps Ottawa would be wisest to sign his fellow countrymen Hemsky and promote a young winger to form a 1A line after the Turris, MacArthur, Ryan unit.

Spezza's cap hit of 7 million isn't a huge sum and this is a franchise who has lost the like of Havlat, Chara, Redden and Alfredsson its most celebrated hero for next to nothing, they can't afford to let it happen again.