Jason Spezza Photos

Currently the Ottawa Senators have Jason Spezza, Kyle Turris, Mika Zibanejad, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Zack Smith at centre. That is five centres and obviously there are only four spots. More specifically among the top two lines, there are two spots and Spezza, Turris, Zibanejad all competing to play in them long term. For next season, there is nothing wrong with playing Zibanejad as a centre on the third line and then moving Smith to the wing or demoting Jean-Gabriel Pageau to the AHL. Zibanejad could also move to the wing, although he hasn't been effective in that role so far in his c...

Ottawa Senators star centre Jason Spezza acknowledged Monday that he suffered a knee injury while rehabilitating from his back disc surgery on Jan. 31, which is why he was unable to return to the lineup until Game 3 of the second round of the playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Ottawa Senators were eliminated from the playoffs this week with two consecutive losses, 7-3 in Ottawa and 6-2 in Pittsburgh. Biggest Gains: Kyle Turris Turris had two goals and one assist this week, significant when the team only scored five goals in two games. It's not surprising to see that his production jumped when Jason Spezza returned, since that's what we saw at the beginning of this season. With six goals and three assists in 10 playoff games, Turris should have put an end to any debate about whether he or Mika Zibanejad should anchor the second line next year. It looks li...

Pittsburgh Penguins' James Neal (18) gets the puck past Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41), Jared Cowen (2) and Jason Spezza (19) for a goal during the second period in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals in their NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs series against the Ottawa Senators, Friday, May 24, 2013, in Pittsburgh. Neal had a hat trick to lead the Penguins to a 6-2 win. The Penguins advance to the Eastern Conference finals. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

The Senators' official Twitter feed acknowledged that prospect Mark Stone may draw into the lineup tonight against Pittsburgh, and Don Brennan sees it as something of a sure thing. If he plays, he'll replace Cory Conacher and play on a line with Jason Spezza. Stone made an appearance in last year's playoffs but was later removed for Jakob Silfverberg, a decision that Don Cherry thought cost the Senators the series. Don was wrong, of course, but Stone did show some flashes of brilliance during the series, particularly his beautiful assist on a Jason Spezza goal. The reason that the Sena...

Ottawa Senators Jason Spezza stands in front of Milan Michalek, left, and Cory Conacher, right, during the team's practice ahead of Game 5 in their NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference semifinal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Ottawa, Ontario, on Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Patrick Doyle)

  PREGAME {youtube}lv2Z7FQfXKE{/youtube} Hey, guess where we are: -No not quite: -We're in Ottawa ... or the farthest reaches of Ottawa. Scotiabank Place is very far away from the downtown area here in Ottawa. It's pretty much two exits past no where on the high way. It's shame because Ottawa has some lovely views such as this: -And this: -Jason Spezza returns to the lineup tonight after being sidelined due to a back injury since February. There seems to be a lot of excitement over his return and justly so. He did finish fourth in the NHL last season in scoring. That said, what can you rea...

Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson is confident that the return of centre Jason Spezza will provide “an energy boost” in Game 3 Sunday.

ShareThis With his team down 0-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins and in need of a saviour, Ottawa Senators centre Jason Spezza will make his return on Sunday for Game 3. Coach Paul MacLean also confirmed that Craig Anderson would be the starting goalie in this crucial game. Anderson was pulled for backup Robin Lehner after giving [...] ShareThis

Ottawa Senators Jason Spezza smiles during NHL hockey practice in Ottawa Saturday, May 18, 2013. Spezza is expected to line up for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series on Sunday, that the Pittsburgh Penguins lead 2-0. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand)

Ottawa Senators' Jason Spezza attends hockey practice in Ottawa, Sunday, May 12, 2013. The Senators are to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in round two of the NHL playoffs. (AP Photos/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand)

Ottawa Senators Jason Spezza smiles during NHL hockey practice in Ottawa Saturday, May 18, 2013. Spezza is expected to line up for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series on Sunday, that the Pittsburgh Penguins lead 2-0. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Fred Chartrand)

The Ottawa Senators are in desperate need of Jason Spezza’s offensive touch. Now.

ShareThis Jason Spezza will not be going to Pittsburgh for the start of the second round of the playoffs Tuesday. ShareThis

Firstly, outside of Erik Karlsson (and this year's version of Craig Anderson), there is no one more talented in the Ottawa Senators organization than Jason Spezza. Kyle Turris has done an admirable job of filling in this season, but Jason Spezza isn't a good player, he is a great player. He has that special next level that allows him to do things no other forward on the Senators can do. He makes his wingers considerably more effective, and I swoon to think of the effect he will have on the ineffectual power play. But all the hubbub (I always wanted to use that word) about his potentia...