I find myself asking all the time why Jason Spezza isn’t considered among the elite when the discussing NHL centers. He has the size, strength, speed and skill to be in the conversation.

Spezza has averaged over a point per game through the course of a  nine-year career, all with the Ottawa Senators. He finished fourth in the NHL in scoring last year, and helped the 8th seeded Senators take the top-seeded New York Rangers to seven games before bowing out in an exciting first round series.

However, in conversations I’ve had with hockey “experts”, Spezza always wears an unfavorable tag. He’s “soft” or “indifferent” or not a good “leader” or “lives in a van down by the river”. OK, that last one I just threw in there. Anytime I feel that there are excessive quotation marks being used, I picture Matt Foley-Motivational Speaker.

The truth is, Jason Spezza may be all of those things that might turn people off of him, but his numbers paint a picture of a guy who can play hockey very, very well. The only real knock against Spezza is that he may not be the most durable guy in the world. Only once in those nine years has the Senators center played the full 82-game set. Despite not playing a very physical style, Spezza fair or not, bears the tag of  a player who might be on the brittle side.

Other veterans on the Sens might handle the leadership and physical play, but Spezza always seems to be in the middle of the offensive production. He has vastly improved in the faceoff circle and his career plus/minus of  plus 77 shows that he is not averse to playing  a little defense here and there. Though he has had the benefit of All-Star caliber wings throughout his career, Spezza is still considered an elite playmaker.

The meteoric rise of Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson and consistent goaltender Craig Anderson could help the Senators move forward as a legitimate Eastern Conference contender. Meanwhile their All-Star center continues to rack up his stats at a point per game clip. Hopefully for Senator fans this adds up to another trip to the Stanley Cup Final.