Jason Spezza: In the shadow of Erik Karlsson
The Ottawa Senators currently hold down seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings with a comfortable cushion over eighth. Arguably the most surprising team in the NHL – thanks in large part to defenseman Erik Karlsson – the Sens have reaped the benefits of the league’s sixth-best offense at 2.96 goals per game.
As a result of the club’s rapid ascent, the young star onthe blueline has received more attention in Canada’s capital than even the robocall scandal. The Hockey News even saw fit to steal countryman Henrik Lundqvist’s moniker away and call the defenseman King Karlsson in a recent issue. Clearly he’s the sole driving force behind the Senators and main reason they are in position to avoid back-to-back seasons out of the playoffs for the first time since the mid-1990s.
Oh, and that Jason Spezza guy, too.
Yes, that Jason Spezza.
With so much attention drawn to Karlsson this year, Spezza has quietly been able to enjoy a rejuvenating season. He is currently fourth in league scoring with 28 goals and 72 points and is playing to a positive plus-minus rating for the first time since 2007-08. Some writers in Ottawa believe he deserves Hart Trophy consideration, but outside of Canada’s capital city, there’s nothing.
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The lack of attention must be a relief for the 28-year-old center who was drafted second overall in 2001. There’s hardly anything online noting his performance this season, a major difference from the past few years as his name was all over the internet as trade rumors ran rampant. But GM Bryan Murray hung on to the star center and has been rewarded with production and leadership.
If he maintains his current position, he’ll record his highest career finish in the points race. He finished eighth in 2007-08 and that was when he had two linemates, Daniel Alfredsson and Dany Heatley, both of whom had at least 40 goals and 82 points. Other than Karlsson, there is no member of the Senators who will record 60 points this season, making his contributions even more important and impressive.
Aside from the high point total, fewer turnovers and harder backchecking has him playing some of the best hockey of his career and turning into a leader for the Sens. On a rebuilding team he is “now the veteran, heir apparent to Alfredsson,” according to Roy MacGregor of The Globe And Mail.
Spezza has been able to walk the thin line of eliminating the end-to-end rushes, blind passes and risky plays without stifling his creativity on the ice. He has been nearly unstoppable at times this season, including during a recent 11-games point streak in which he recorded eight goals and 22 points.
Overall, he’s tied for fourth in the NHL with 31 even-strength assists and ninth with 10 power-play goals, showing he is producing in all situations. His home and road points are split almost evenly; he has recorded 14 goals and 37 points at Scotiabank Place and 14 goals and 35 points while on the road. His 57 take-aways leads the team and is 12th in the league and his 53.9 faceoff percentage is the second highest mark of his career while taking over 21 draws per game, the first time in his career he has been over 20. He is on pace to take nearly 300 more draws than his previous high.
Hardly anything has been said about Spezza and he may put up the quietest 90 points since the lockout. But no attention is better than negative attention and with trade rumors dropping off this season, Spezza is finally able to concentrate solely on his game.
And that focus, along with the contributions of Karlsson and first-year head coach Paul MacLean, has been the biggest factor in the biggest surprise story of the season.
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