Jason Spezza is rooting for former teammate Daniel Alfredsson to make it into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
"I would love to see Alfie get in. I hope he gets the respect that he deserves in terms of voting," the Toronto Maple Leafs forward said Tuesday, according to The Canadian Press' Joshua Clipperton. "He's a guy that didn't win the NHL, but won a lot internationally. He was a guy that was a huge role model for me. Foundationally in Ottawa, he's the guy that really helped bring that club to respectability, and did so much for the community on and off the ice."
Alfredsson's Hall of Fame case has been highly debated since he became eligible in 2017. The 47-year-old - who retired from the NHL in 2014 - has missed the cut the past three years.
While he never won a Stanley Cup, Alfredsson - who spent 17 seasons with the Ottawa Senators before spending his final campaign with the Detroit Red Wings - was one of the most prominent players of his generation.
He racked up 444 goals and 1,157 points in 1,246 career NHL games and took home the Calder Trophy in 1996. Alfredsson also represented Sweden 14 times internationally and helped lead the team to an Olympic gold medal in 2006, an Olympic silver medal in 2014, and numerous other medals at the World Championships.
Spezza - who spent 10 seasons playing alongside Alfredsson in Ottawa - looks back fondly on their time together and said he hopes that the former winger finally gets the respect he deserves when the Hall announces its 2020 inductees Wednesday.
"We had great chemistry on the ice, we had great chemistry off the ice. I can't say I'm not rooting for him," Spezza said. "I'm patiently waiting to see what happens tomorrow. He's been eligible for a couple years, and it feels like this year he might have a little more of a chance. I hope he gets the respect because he's a guy that, in my opinion, deserves to be in the Hall."
