Will Spezza follow Heatley out of capital?
Does want to be traded?
That was the question posed to the Ottawa Senators forward on Thursday after reports had surfaced that he was unhappy with his current hockey team. , who was booed by Ottawa fans at the end of this season, has five more years remaining on a $7 million US annual contract.
But the 26-year-old said the decision is not up to him.
“I don’t have a no-trade now, so if they trade you, then you get traded,” said at a charity event in Toronto. “If not, obviously I’ve spent some time there so I’m happy to be there and we’re looking forward to the future.”
When asked again if he wanted to go back to Ottawa, responded: “Yeah.”
It is not difficult to see why might want a change in scenery.
The native of Mississauga, Ont., has spent all seven NHL seasons with the Senators. While he has reached the 30-goal mark three times and twice put up 90 or more points, he has yet to reach the superstar status of a second overall pick (in 2001). As a result, fans have grown increasingly frustrated with the dynamic centre.
After was booed during a first-round series loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the feeling might be mutual.
“I got an impression that he was quite unhappy at the end,” Senators general manager Bryan Murray told Sportsnet in regards to his season-ending meeting with . “I think the coverage he felt he got and the fan reaction a couple of times left him kind of wanting a little bit. But I don’t think it’s anything beyond that. My next conversation with him will be away from the emotion of playoff time to see what we can do and what we have to do.”
While said his meeting with Murray was confidential, he hinted that he was unhappy with the response he received from fans.