Spezza interview with Ian Mendes :
http://t.co/wsYHomuFV8Recap :
- move beneficial for both parties
- happy to end up in Dallas
- goal of Spezza's was to be traded without hoopla, but that was never going to happen. Just wanted to stay quiet during the process
- has lots of respect for Murray, media skews things. Great relationship.
- trade was entirely Spezza's request, he has to live with the consequences
- Organization is going through a "different period", taking a "different approach", at the point in his career he wanted to move on & get a fresh start somewhere else.
- trade allowed Sens to get younger.
- Spez knew it was time to move on.
- Idea that being captain added pressure "is bogus" to Spezza. If anything, being captain was more of an incentive to stay.
- Spezza takes it hard when his team struggles.
- Phillips one of the most mature people Spezza has ever been around in his career, inferred that he'd be a natural fit for captain.
- Karlsson provides confidence, can be a positive as far as inspiration is concerned for the team in a leadership role.
- At the end of the day, doesn't want to offer endorsement for Sens captain, not his place as a member of another team.
- Wanted to play his whole career in Ottawa & win a cup here, but circumstances change.
- passionate about the game
- when asked whether Jaques Martin was good for his game: "Well... I learned a lot"
- Thinks Cup Finals ('07) team was best team. Hasek-era team was the best collection of guys on paper, but couldn't put it together.
- Bryan Murray was a great coach and everyone loved playing for him. Most frustrating time as Sen was 3-4 year period of coaching carousels after Murray became GM. Sens peak ended after good coach (Murray) was replaced by stream of guys who "tried to re-invent the wheel".
- Ottawa is a great community city, a very respectful city.
- Tough to move on, would have been easier just to re-sign.
I'll miss Spezza
Wish him the best of luck in Dallas.