The Dallas Stars acquired Jason Spezza nearly five years ago with the hopes that his offensive touch would help them be an offensive powerhouse. With conflicting coaching styles and systems, though, his future on the team is now up in the air.
In the last season of his contract, Jason Spezza‘s hockey future remains uncertain. He’s worn Victory Green since the 2014-15 season and was a consistent top six forward for the Dallas Stars through the first few years of his stay. But over the past two seasons, his standing in the organization has become uncertain.
So uncertain, in fact, that No. 90 might not even receive an offer from the Dallas Stars this summer when he hits free agency. On top of that, Spezza may be ready to step back from hockey with his 36th birthday approaching in June. Admittedly, both sides have fair reasons to assume this.
Reasons Spezza Won’t Re-sign
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Becoming a healthy scratch option
Jim Montgomery has decided to scratch a healthy Jason Spezza a number of times during the Stars’ playoff push. With each scratch decision, Montgomery claims that he wants faster, younger legs on the ice. While the 35-year-old center is aware that there are faster guys available on the roster, it’s still a difficult decision to bear.
Not to mention that it’s happened somewhat regularly over the past month. In the final 11 games of the regular season, Spezza served as the healthy scratch four times.
It could even be fair to assume that this coaching decision regarding Spezza being in the lineup or sitting and watching from the press box is enough to deter him altogether — and for good reason. Having not won a Stanley Cup in his career, no. 90 has to be itching to go on a run in the postseason. His career has been great, but the ultimate goal for hockey players is to get their name on the Cup.
Back-to-back coaching clashes
Just like someone with an everyday job would leave if there was severe tension with their boss, Spezza might not want to re-sign with the Stars sheerly based on coaching decisions.
Last season, he had issues with Ken Hitchcock’s defense-first scheme and became a regular either in the bottom of the lineup or on the healthy scratch list. Now, he’s struggling to fit in and produce in Montgomery’s style.
This type of frustration can take a toll, especially on veteran players. In fact, it might be better for his overall game to get out of a situation that isn’t serving him properly anymore. If the direction of the Stars doesn’t align with Spezza’s vision of the final few years of his playing career, it may be time to turn in another direction.
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Free agency test could be viable
While he’ll likely only be offered a far cry from his current $7.5 million per year salary, Spezza could still have a handful of seasons left in the tank. He’s a talented playmaker and has grown in his defensive responsibility despite the incongruence with different coaching staffs in Big D.
It’s fair to think that Spezza would test free agency and try to find a viable one-year contract. Perhaps he’ll even ink a deal for more than one season. Then again, he might simply turn to the family aspect of life and decide that retirement in Dallas is the right move.
Reasons Dallas Won’t Make An Offer
Forwards galore
The Dallas Stars have a plentiful group of forwards in the organization, and they continue to acquire more with each season. Translation: They don’t really need Spezza anymore. He’s a good veteran player who has done a lot for the team, but he’s not necessarily irreplaceable in the eyes of the Stars as he continues to climb in age.
Young guns need their time to shine — Roope Hintz and Jason Dickinson anyone? — and Spezza’s spot on the roster might be better used in grooming the next generation of Dallas Stars forwards.
Price tag and coaching
Although Spezza won’t be receiving any offers close to his current contract in the upcoming summer, his cost isn’t going to align that closely with younger players. If he still believes he’s worth upwards of a few million a year, Dallas probably won’t even bother. Spezza did mention earlier in the season that he would be willing to take a pay cut in order to remain with the Stars, but there’s no telling how much of a cut that entails.
They have a lot of cap space invested in players already. Adding another veteran forward and creating less breathing room in their cap space might not be on the Stars’ agenda. This is especially true if the coaching staff isn’t onboard with keeping him around.
And if Montgomery’s future expectations for the Stars centers around speed and agility, there likely isn’t room for an aging centerman to stick around.
Bottom Line
While Spezza has been a great player at times for the Dallas Stars, it looks as though the 2019 offseason will be one filled with decisions for the veteran center.