Spezza: No. To me, completely out of the blue. You'd have to talk to him at a later date probably to see if there was thought throughout the last year, but to me it was completely out of the blue. I knew he was going to come back and play because he had felt pretty good all year, but to me it was more of a decision that if he was going to come back and play, and he did, that it was inevitable it would be with us. But that's sport, and that's hockey, but we respect his decision.

Team 1200: Do you think the fact that it was a unique year in free agency where teams could talk to guys in advance of free agency influenced Alfie's decision?

Spezza: I have too much respect for Alfie to get into our conversation and his reasons, he'll map out why he made his decision over the course of time... Only Alfie knows why his decisions were made. I wouldn't feel comfortable talking what we talked about. I think the free agency period is good for guys, it's good for teams to be able to talk to guys, and it gives guys a few more days to think about things instead of making rash decisions.

Spezza: But as for Alfie making his decision, he's the only one who should speak upon it.

Team 1200: Alfie thinks Detroit has a better chance to win the cup. Is that extra motivation for the Ottawa Senators?

Spezza: We feel like we have a really good team. I don't think I agree with the assessment that they're in a much better position than us to win. We've made some good acquisitions and his decision was made based on what he felt was best for him personally.

Does Spezza think Alfie made the right decision?

Spezza: We feel strongly about our group here and we've made some big strides. With all the injuries last year, guys have had a chance to step up and play in a bigger role than they would have normally last year. That coupled with us coming back healthy, that hopefully we can take the next step as a group. Every year is a new challenge and you really can't rest on a good season last year.

Team 1200: What would it mean to you to be named captain of this team?

Simulated reaction to being named Captain.

Spezza: If you ask any player, you'd love to have the distinction of being captain of your club. I pride myself on being a leader in our room. We've always led as a group leadership core and I think it will continue that way. Whether it's me or someone else who's captain, I feel like I'm one of the leaders on our team who has to be good night in and night out, make sure things are running smoothly in the room, and take a lot of responsibility with how I'm playing too. If it does happen, I don't think there's much in the way that I handle myself that'll have to change and that maybe couldn't have been 5, 6 years ago. But we'll see what happens. We don't make those decisions, but it's definitely something I'd love to have the chance to do.

We've always leaned on each other. Myself, Alfie, Philly, Chris Neil, *giggles* Erik. We've all been together for a long time, especially me, Philly, Alfie and Neiler. Not much will change in our room. We'll see where it goes, but you have to lead as a group within a dressing room. There's so many personalities and there's not one guy that can ever be the sole leader of the team. I think we have a great NUCULUS(!) and a great leadership group and you hear Mac refer to it all the time: when we have meetings, it's not 1 on 1, Mac and the captain, it's 5

or 6 of us that get together and bounce things around.

Team 1200: Bobby Ryan? (I promise they asked actual questions, but this seems easier)

Spezza: He's a heck on an addition to our club. When I saw that, I was pretty excited. He'll bring a different element to our team that maybe we haven't had in a few years. To get a guy at his age in the prime of his age that I think maybe feels like he has a little more to give... I talked to him and he's really excited about coming. I think there's a lot of things that I could probably help him along with to make him a better player. If we get a chance to play together that would be great, if we don't there's still a lot of great things in his game that he can bring to our team. I'm excited, and I hope I get a chance to play with him, and he's a great acquisition.

Team 1200: Stanley Cup?

Spezza: I don't think you ever want to get too far ahead of yourself in this league, but we have a team that I feel should make the playoffs this year and if you get into the playoffs and things are going well, then everybody has a chance.

Spezza: We're in a tough division right now, but I feel like we've got a great team. We made a lot of strides 2 years ago, and we made more strides last year. If we can keep building our foundation, we've got a chance to contend. You've got to get in the playoffs first, and that's no easy task.

Team 1200: Injuries?

Spezza: I feel great. The only impact it's had on my training is making me really motivated to make sure I'm coming to camp in great shape and excited to go.

Spezza: I can't remember having the excitement I have coming towards the season like I have right now for a long time just because of the time I've missed. I'm feeling good. I've been able to train fully. I started skating probably 3-4 weeks earlier than I normally would. I've been skating 3-4 times a week. I missed so much time that I want to make sure I'm getting the proper reps in so it's no surprise to my body come training camp. It's been a fun summer for me. I haven't had to worry too much about the injuries.

Spezza: With a back, you never really cast it aside and expect never to hear from it again. It's something that's going to be a career long thing where I make sure I'm doing the proper maintenance, but I feel good right now and I'm ready to go.

Team 1200: Team Canada?

Spezza: They phoned me before they released the list. I was a little bit surprised, and as these are, you don't control how they pick these teams.

Spezza: Like I said, I was pretty motivated going into this season because I missed all last year, I would say this definitely added to it a little bit.

"Ottawa....I am uhhh...ALSO coming in hot" - J. Spezza

— WTYKY (@wtyky) August 7, 2013

Team 1200: Did the call ease the pain of being rejected?

Spezza: I'm not really worried about it. If I have a great season with the Ottawa Senators and we win a lot of hockey games and I'm a big part of it, then if they feel like making room for me...then great, if not, I've played for Team Canada a lot, you can't control how they pick these teams.

Spezza: My goal is to help our team and get better and be a leader on our club. I expect to have a real good season this year. I've pushed myself this summer. I missed the whole year last year and I feel like I have a lot to give. I was making big strides in my game, and I'm not going to led a development camp get in the way of my goals.

My closing thoughts





It sounds like Spezza is chomping at the bit to get back on the ice. After Spezza hung up, Steve Lloyd said what we were all thinking and said there's no chance this man isn't the captain of the Ottawa Senators next year.After years of criticism from fans for his rash decision making on the ice and goofy presence off of it, it's clear that Spezza has the maturity to be the next captain of this team.Expect to read sentences like the preceding one about 10,000 times before and after he's named captain of the team.