Murray says Senators will try to accommodate Spezza, who asked for trade

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Jason Spezza has requested a trade, and Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray says he'll try to make that happen.

"I don't want to trade the guy, really, and I know I won't get the value, in all likelihood that I should get for him," Murray said Wednesday after the NHL general managers meeting. "But I think that Jason feels maybe there's a change that he would like to have happen, and if that's the case we'll try to do what we can."

Spezza, who replaced Daniel Alfredsson as Ottawa's captain, has one year left on his contract at a salary of US$4 million and cap hit of $7 million. The 30-year-old centre has a modified no-trade clause that allows him to submit a list of 10 teams he would not accept a trade to.

Murray said that a few teams have already asked about Spezza, even though Wednesday's meeting was too busy to advance many talks. He expects trade chatter to pick up in the next few weeks leading up to the draft, which runs June 27 and 28 in Philadelphia.

If the Senators do trade Spezza as has been speculated for some time, it would likely not be for just prospects and/or draft picks.

"Obviously I'd like to win a hockey game next year, so getting a player back that can play in the league, that has played in the league, would be important," Murray said.

Spezza led all Senators forwards in scoring last season with 23 goals and 43 assists. In 686 career NHL games, the native of Mississauga, Ont., has 687 points.

Ottawa went 37-31-14 and finished five points out of a playoff spot this season.

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