'He has that swagger again': Spezza enjoying nice renaissance in his play

Jason Spezza always jokes that he's never been a fast skater, so he didn't understand why people were saying he had lost a step
"I didn't have a step to lose," the 35-year-old center said with a grin.

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But Spezza will confirm that he's off to a fast start this year, and he's not surprised at all. Tallying five points (a goal and four assists) in the first seven games, Spezza is on pace to easily surpass the 26 points he had in 78 games last season. He'll also tell you he feels he's a much better player than he showed in 2017-18.
"Last year, I didn't like how the year went," he said. "I expect more of myself, and I'm starting to think my game is coming around."
Spezza last season never clicked with head coach Ken Hitchcock. While his strengths of puck possession and smart passing could have been an asset, his weaknesses in defensive coverage kept him off the ice. Spezza's average ice time dropped from 16:07 per game to 13:00, and that was one of the reasons he had the lowest point production of his career.

It created question marks about his future and allowed some to speculate that the Stars should trade him before the final year of his $7.5 million contract kicked in. But with new head coach Jim Montgomery committed to helping Spezza get his game back, the Stars allowed the summer trade window to pass and are instead focusing on getting the most out of him.
"I told him, to just play his game, and a big smile came on his face," Montgomery said of his first meeting with Spezza. "You can see him start to assert himself offensively, and his confidence is growing.
"He has that swagger again."
Spezza was drafted second overall in 2001 and came to the Stars as a point-a-game scorer after 11 seasons in Ottawa, so he definitely has had swagger for most of his career. He has naturally slowed down because of a reduced role behind Tyler Seguin in Dallas, but he said he has always seen himself as a scorer.
"I feel great, and I think I'm in good shape, I've worked hard at that," he said of a summer workout routine that has kept him fit. "I'm confident in my ability to score, and I look at that as a big part of my role on the team."

On a Stars team in need of depth scoring, that's an important role.
Montgomery has dabbled with putting Alexander Radulov and Valeri Nichushkin on the second line with Spezza, and then last game with those two wingers injured, the coach used Devin Shore and Tyler Pitlick with Spezza. In both situations, Spezza's line was one of the best on the Stars.
"I think Spezza is playing with intensity," Montgomery said after Spezza scored on a nice tip play last game. "He's being a really impactful player for us. He's a second-line center who is doing a lot for us."
And if he can continue to do that, then maybe the Stars can push forward and start to win games. While there are some holes to plug in a 3-4-0 start, Spezza definitely isn't one of them. In fact, he really does have the chance to be a big part of the solution.
Relationships are a big part of pro sports, and it seems the chemistry between Spezza and Montgomery is something that could blossom. The bench boss can deliver opportunity to the veteran, and the veteran can help spread the message of the new coach.

"It's his team and he's the boss. He knows what to do," Spezza said. "He's won at all his levels. I don't feel like he's a rookie coach you need to talk to. It's best to let him do what he's doing, because everything is well thought-out.
"He's not a guy that's flying by the seat of his pants. … He's going to teach it to us, and we're going to get better at it."
And Spezza said he can definitely get better.
"I've never been fast, that's not where my problem was last year," he said of the questions about his declining skillset. "It was thinking too much and playing too far outside of my game. I've just been working hard at what I do well, and it's been working good.
"I actually think I have moreto give."
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika,and listen to his podcast.