Report: Ottawa Senators shopping captain Jason Spezza to Western Conference teams

According to a report from Sportsnet reporter Nick Kypreos the Ottawa Senators are shopping captain Jason Spezza to Western Conference teams. Kypreos' report cites "independent sources," and shouldn't come as a huge surprise considering Ottawa's depth down the middle of their forward group, and the rumors that surrounded the long-tenured Senators captain at the 2014 NHL trade deadline in early March.

Also, there were Senators owner Eugene Melnyk's eyebrow raising comments about Spezza's future in Ottawa from mid-April. "Jason understands what his role was and is. He's a professional. He understands you could be here today, gone tomorrow," Melnyk said following the conclusion of Ottawa's disappointing 2013-14 season. Not exactly a vociferous vote of confidence, though Melnyk may simply have been reacting to Spezza informing management and ownership of his willingness to move on from Ottawa during his end-of-season exit meeting.

This past season, his first as Senators captain, Spezza managed 23 goals and 66 points in 75 games played. While the counting stats were still there for the talented top-line center, the Senators were out-scored by 18 goals when he was on the ice at five-on-five, and two Senators centermen performed better by on-ice shot attempt differential (Mika Zibanejad, Kyle Turris).

According to Ottawa Sun columnist Bruce Garrioch the Anaheim Ducks and the St. Louis Blues are two teams that were interested in acquiring Spezza's services ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Garrioch also reports that the Senators would be looking for a "rental-type" return in a Spezza trade - specifically a player, a prospect, and a first round pick. 

Spezza has one season remaining on a seven-year, $49 million dollar contract signed prior to the start of the 2008-09 NHL season - that contract carries a $7 million dollar cap-hit for the 2014-15 NHL season, though Spezza is only due $4 million in actual salary per capgeek.com.