NAME; Jason Spezza
BIRTHDAY; June 13, 1983
BIRTH PLACE; Mississauga, Ontario
AGE; 20
HEIGHT; 6'2
WEIGHT; 206 lbs
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DRAFTED; 2001 - Ottawa's 1st round pick (2nd overall)
JERSEY #; 39
HOCKEY CLUB; Ottawa Senators
POSITION; Centre
SHOOTS; Right
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS;
Selected second overall by Senators at 2001 NHL Entry Draft at Sunrise, Florida on June 23
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Was ranked #1 among North American prospects on Central Scoutings final ranking
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Captured a bronze medal with Team Canada at 2001 World Junior Hockey Championships
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Named Windsors Most Outstanding Player and was voted the Western Conferences Best Playmaker in 2001 OHL coaches poll
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Performed for Canada at 2000 World Junior Championships at the age of 16 - one of only four players to play for Canada as a 16-year-old (Wayne Gretzky, Eric Lindros, Jay Bouwmeester)
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Performed for Brampton (OHL) as an underage selection in 1998-99 and became the youngest player to ever perform in the OHL All-Star Game in 1999 at the age of 15
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Named and played in the 2003 AHL All-Star Classic (10-7 win for Team Canada, 2/3/03)
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Scored his first NHL goal against Philadelphia (Roman Cechmanek) (10/29/03)
Talent Analysis
Strong and fast. Quicker first step and more agile on skates than in past. Still tries to do too much with puck at times when he should be using his teammates. Prone to losing puck at opponents blueline. Uses his body and reach well. Amazing forechecker, uses stick and body positioning to full advantage to block passing lanes and force defencemen into coughing up the puck and/or chipping it away. Sees the ice very well and reads off his linemates. Thinks game at a very fast pace and can make quick, crisp passes. More physical than last year and very strong on his skates. Calm under pressure, and harder to frustrate than in past. Works hard on the ice at both ends and fights through checks and interference so much it frustrates opponents. Added maturity.
Future
A veteran corps of centers and forwards lay in front of him but few of them have his kind of potential and skill. He has worked hard to break bad OHL habits and will make whatever line he plays on in the NHL instantly better. His physical stature helps him go up against most anyone on the ice, so he shouldn't have problems with the physical game. He will definitely be a first-line center who can swing the momentum of any game, all he needs is major league experience.
