Eight bedrooms, half-a-dozen bathrooms and just as many parking spots plus a hot tub and in-ground pool on a vast emerald-green lawn in McKellar Heights overlooked by trees.

Former Ottawa Senators Captain Jason Spezza was the king of this urban castle -- all on the market for a mere $1.69 million since he was traded to the Dallas Stars.

"It's enormous -- it's over 5,500 square feet, beautiful pool, very large lot, the construction of it is immaculate, soaring ceilings," said Tony Rhodes of Coldwell Banker Rhodes and Company Brokerage picked to be Spezza's real estate play-maker.

"It's a beautiful home."

The Spezzas -- Jason and wife Jennifer, who have two young daughters -- put their own stamp on the Charlesfort build with an annual tax bill of nearly $16,000.

But if it's not big enough for the next owner, the adjacent lot is for sale, too.

Yet the whole spread at 905 Hare Ave. is surprisingly homey, perhaps befitting a guy one fan called a "genuinely good, humble guy" in a letter to the Sun.

The big kitchen -- the heart of the open main floor -- includes granite counter tops, a six-burner range and wine cooler plus a butler's pantry and separated from the family room by a cozy stone fireplace.

In the basement there's a family room that's bigger than many starter homes decorated with mementos of Spezza's hockey career, including framed jerseys.

There's a playroom any little girl would love and there's a treehouse, swings and slide in the backyard.

Rhodes who met Spezza when he first arrived in Ottawa and attended his wedding, is sad to see him leave Ottawa.

After selling or renting three dozen homes to members of the Senators organization, he says they're regular folks.

"They're just normal people, in some cases with larger budgets," he said.

megan.gillis@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @ottawasun_megan