Senators not panicking sans Spezza
Chance for others, Maclean says
RALEIGH, N.C. • At first glance, the loss of Jason Spezza would appear to be a massive blow to the Ottawa Senators.
Spezza, who underwent successful surgery Friday to repair a herniated disc in his back, finished fourth in league scoring last season (84 points in 80 games) and even earned a mention or two in Hart Trophy conversations.
He has also become a leader in the room, the odds-on favourite to be the next captain of this team.
You don’t lose a player like that and just carry on, do you? Well, maybe. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Senators have done just fine without No. 19 in the lineup over the years. If you chop out Spezza’s rookie NHL season, during which he spent more than two months with AHL Binghamton, the Senators are a tidy 45-33-7 for a .571 percentage when he’s been sidelined.
With him, the team’s record is only marginally better at 299-206-73 (.580 percentage).
The team certainly doesn’t consider it a crisis situation.
In fact, “we’re actually excited about the fact that it’s a great opportunity, not only for individuals, but for the team to play,” head coach Paul MacLean said Friday.
That said, he admitted Spezza is a special player who can generate offence out of thin air. “We don’t have someone like that to go in there, but we certainly feel very confident with the depth of our team and our ability to play four lines and to play with tempo,” he explained.
While the coach will probably be a tad more excited when Spezza is able to return to the lineup approximately two months from now, he has reason not to panic.
His team had goals from 13 different players heading into Friday night’s game against the Hurricanes, good enough for tops in the NHL.
It also helps that the man elevated to the No. 1 centre position, Kyle Turris, is putting up first-line numbers. A career 0.42 point-per-game player, Turris has already notched four goals and three assists in seven games this season. Turris knows teams will be gunning for him.
“We’re never going to replace Spezz, he’s one of the best players in the league,” Turris said. “He means to much to this team — you can’t explain it. But everybody’s got to step up and it’s going to take everybody to try and fill that void, and I’m going to work hard and try and chip in where I can.”
ALFREDSSON INSIGHT
Although Daniel Alfredsson’s back issues were a little different from Spezza’s — the captain had joint issue, not a herniated disc — he knows what his teammate is going though. He also provided some insight into the recovery process.
“The biggest thing I felt was relief right away, the same day of the surgery when I came home, I felt way better, and I hope he does the same” the captain said. Alfredsson was able to take things slowly because he had his surgery in the summertime, whereas Spezza will be itching to get back as soon as possible.
Another advantage Spezza has: He’s 10 years younger.
“That helps too,” Alfredsson said with a smile.