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Welcome Jason Spezza to the trade rumor mill

Ottawa Senators v Pittsburgh Penguins

PITTSBURGH, PA - FEBRUARY 03: Jason Spezza #19 of the Ottawa Senators skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the game at Consol Energy Center on February 3, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Justin K. Aller

For the second straight offseason, there’s great uncertainty regarding the captain of the Ottawa Senators.

Jason Spezza was officially thrust into trade talks on Tuesday -- though some would argue he was there already -- as Sens owner Eugene Melnyk offered up a pretty blunt assessment of Spezza’s season, and future:

“Definitely not a wholesale change,” says Melnyk. “We need leadership and accountability from top to bottom.” #Sens

— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) April 15, 2014


“Jason understands what his role was and is. He’s a professional. He understands you could here today, gone tomorrow,” says Melnyk. #Sens

— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) April 15, 2014


Certainly sounds like teams interested in Jason Spezza should call Bryan Murray. #Sens

— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) April 15, 2014


Spezza, who turns 31 in June, had a fairly productive regular season -- 23 goals and 66 points in 75 games -- but boasted a ghastly minus-26 rating and averaged just 18:13 TOI, his lowest total since 2003-04.

As far as trades go, he could be a pretty mobile asset. While he carries a $7 million cap hit next year -- the last of his seven-year, $49 million deal -- Spezza’s actual salary is only $4 million, a far easier figure for teams to stomach.

“I’m not naive to the talk. I’ve been asked the question lots,” said Spezza, per the Ottawa Sun. “There’s a lot of reflecting to go on here during the months leading up to next season and I’m sure that will be a topic.”

According to the Sun, there are several teams interested in Spezza’s services -- Anaheim and St. Louis, specifically. So it seems the questions that need to be answered are these: Is Spezza willing to waive his no-trade, does he want to leave the only NHL team he’s ever played for and are the Sens really going to break ties with another captain after the Daniel Alfredsson fiasco?

Doesn’t sound like Spezza or the Sens are ready to answer just yet.

“I have a year left on my deal still there,” said Spezza. “This is the day after the season. There’s a lot of time to reflect. I’m sure Bryan [Murray] has to reflect and I have to reflect.”