Where does Spezza rank among the best in the game?

[Urkie]

Okay, I thought this was an appropriate time to bring this up since he was last weeks first star and he's tied for 4th in the league in points. And I don't have the stats but since last January I would bet he has the most points of anybody.

People never seem to include him in their list of best players in the game. Maybe that's because Ottawa isn't a great team now or they just overlook him and say he's terrible defensively which just isn't the case anymore. I watch this guy every game and when he's on there is nobody better or at least very few. If not for injuries then he would have had multiple 100 point seasons already and some 40 goal seasons as well.

People have argued in the past that it was his linemates that made him better but that's not even a valid argument anymore.

So my question is where does he rank? Top 10? Top 5? Have at it...

 

[Eddie_Shack]

Okay, I thought this was an appropriate time to bring this up since he was last weeks first star and he's tied for 4th in the league in points. And I don't have the stats but since last January I would bet he has the most points of anybody.

People never seem to include him in their list of best players in the game. Maybe that's because Ottawa isn't a great team now or they just overlook him and say he's terrible defensively which just isn't the case anymore. I watch this guy every game and when he's on there is nobody better or at least very few. If not for injuries then he would have had multiple 100 point seasons already and some 40 goal seasons as well.

People have argued in the past that it was his linemates that made him better but that's not even a valid argument anymore.

So my question is where does he rank? Top 10? Top 5? Have at it...

It's so tough to rank Spezza because he's been so inconsistent. In the past he's been gripping too tight, trying too hard, making bad passes, but still putting up points. He's got the skills and size to dominate the ice, and it looks like he's finally putting it together. He's not as complete as Datsyuk, Toews, or the Sedins, but he's been just as prolific this year as Kane, Stamkos, and all the other big guns. Right now he's top ten easily, top five arguably. I'm interested to see if he can keep it up the rest of the year.

 

[Automattic]

If you count all positions, he doesn't make my top ten. Amongst only forwards he might crack the top ten though.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I have no idea, but Spezza & Chara would sure look good in Isles uni's.

 

[Urkie]

It's so tough to rank Spezza because he's been so inconsistent. In the past he's been gripping too tight, trying too hard, making bad passes, but still putting up points. He's got the skills and size to dominate the ice, and it looks like he's finally putting it together. He's not as complete as Datsyuk, Toews, or the Sedins, but he's been just as prolific this year as Kane, Stamkos, and all the other big guns. Right now he's top ten easily, top five arguably. I'm interested to see if he can keep it up the rest of the year.

I would say that's a fair statement but injuries have been a big part of his inconsistency.

My other point would be that his production hasn't decreased significantly even though he is no longer playing on a contender and he's playing with worse linemates. That goes against the previous knock on him which is that he can't produce unless he plays with elite players.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I think if Spezza listened to all the people who have told him to shoot the damn puck his numbers would be even better than they are.

 

[Urkie]

I think if Spezza listened to all the people who have told him to shoot the damn puck his numbers would be even better than they are.

That's something I definitely agree with. Not many people know it but Spezza has one of the best and most accurate shots in the entire league. The problem is that at times, he only thinks about passing the puck. He plays his best hockey when he's in a shoot first mentality because then it opens up more room for him to pass the puck and he's one of the best at that too.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

That's something I definitely agree with. Not many people know it but Spezza has one of the best and most accurate shots in the entire league. The problem is that at times, he only thinks about passing the puck. He plays his best hockey when he's in a shoot first mentality because then it opens up more room for him to pass the puck and he's one of the best at that too.

His mentality has always been to set up others. If he was a a bit more selfish he'd be a very scary player.

 

[quoipourquoi]

He hasn't been a point-per-game player since 2008, and even now, his 36 points aren't overwhelmingly remarkable when one considers that there are 12 players in the league with 35 points, so he hasn't exactly carved out his place at the top just yet.

And I don't have the stats but since last January I would bet he has the most points of anybody.

Going back to last January, he has 73 points in 63 games. It's great, but he still has to maintain his level of play for longer than that to get into a top ten list.

I don't have everyone's totals, but from the Ducks, Selanne has 79 points since January and Perry has 83 points, so Spezza probably has some company from stars all across the league.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

23

 

[Urkie]

He hasn't been a point-per-game player since 2008, and even now, his 36 points aren't overwhelmingly remarkable when one considers that there are 12 players in the league with 35 points, so he hasn't exactly carved out his place at the top just yet.

Going back to last January, he has 73 points in 63 games. It's great, but he still has to maintain his level of play for longer than that to get into a top ten list.

I don't have everyone's totals, but from the Ducks, Selanne has 79 points since January and Perry has 83 points, so Spezza probably has some company from stars all across the league.

He has been a point per game player since last February when he came back from injury (I said January, it was actually February). That might change it a little bit and put him closer to the top. But I think it's impressive because the Sens really don't have a lot of scoring depth outside of him. Pretty much just Alfie and Michalek.

I'm not going to sit here and say he's a top 3 player in the league but I will say he's top 5 if not top 3 in terms of skill level. If he can stay healthy then there is no doubt in my mind that he will keep it up. I just get annoyed that he doesn't get recognized as being one of the best players in the league. Him being underrated is one of the reasons why people think the Sens suck. In reality they don't suck because Spezza is so damn good.