FanHouse JasonSpezza

FanHouse's Adam Gretz takes a look at his top 50 players in the NHL. No. 34 is Ottawa Senators forward Jason Spezza.

Alexei Yashin's career in Ottawa may have been tumultuous and relatively disappointing, and he may be one of the most loathed figures associated with Ottawa sports, but he did give Senators fans this: it's because of him, and the maniacal dealings of a former New York Islanders general manager, that the Senators now have one of the game's top play-making centers.

During the 2001 NHL draft, Islanders general manager Mike Milbury, making bold trades for the sake of making bold trades, parted ways with up-and-coming defenseman Zdeno Chara, forward Bill Muckalt, and the No. 2 overall pick to acquire the moody Yashin, and then signed him to an outrageous 10-year contract extension (the Islanders are still paying him today). The No. 2 pick that year? Jason Spezza.

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In this week's power rankings, the New Jersey Devils remain one of the hottest teams in the NHL, holding off the Detroit Red Wings for the top spot thanks to an historic week for goaltender Martin Brodeur.

Vancouver makes a big jump, while the Montreal Canadiens continue to fade at the absolute worst time of the season.

Senators 5, Canadiens 4: It could be argued that Montreal has already hit the panic button by firing Guy Carbonneau, but if there's another one hidden in the bowels of the Bell Centre, it might be time to press that one, as well.

Thanks to their 5-4 loss to Ottawa on Thursday, the Canadiens have now lost four in a row and six of their past eight, as they continue to flirt with the possibility of missing the postseason.

We're in the home stretch of the NHL season, and both conference playoff races are heating up as the standings change on a daily basis. The Eastern Conference has seven teams separated by just seven points in the No's 4 through 10 spots, while everybody except Phoenix and Colorado is still competing for a playoff spot in the West.

On Monday, we showed you the video of Ottawa Senators forward Jason Spezza getting busted with an illegal stick. It's not something that happens all that often, and it was certainly a gutsy call by Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson to ask for the measurement late in a 2-1 hockey game. Actually, it was a brilliant call, even if the Maple Leafs failed to take advantage of the ensuing power play.

The Senators, however, don't feel Spezza's stick broke any rules and would like to have some clarification on what is legal and what is not. Here's some help, guys.

Monday's game between Toronto and Ottawa had no impact on the NHL's playoff race, but it still managed to make some headlines thanks to the stick of Senators forward Jason Spezza.

With Toronto trailing, 2-1, late in the third period, the Maple Leafs felt there was something suspicious about the stick Spezza was using.

A couple of weeks ago, TSN hockey analyst Gord Miller came to the conclusion that in order for the Pittsburgh Penguins to remain competitive in the NHL, they would have to deal the league's leading scorer, Evgeni Malkin, for a first-line winger, a No. 2 center, and "hopefully" a pick or a prospect. It was a laughable proposal.

On Sunday night, Rob Rossi, Penguins beat writer for the Tribune-Review, appeared on a weekly Pittsburgh talk show and suggested the team would be wise to put Sidney Crosby on the trade block this offseason. I guess this is what happens when you go from being two wins away from hoisting the Stanley Cup to being the No. 10 team in the Eastern Conference in a matter of one season.

The Ottawa Senators are currently on their third head coach in the past two seasons and sitting near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The one constant over that time has been general manager Bryan Murray, and one of the former coaches is pointing the finger directly at him for the team's recent failures on the ice.

John Paddock, fired by the Senators on February 28, 2008, blasted his former boss saying, among other things, that he's now "next in line" to take the fall.

Kings 5, Capitals 4: Exciting game in Washington as the Caps and Kings combined to light up the scoreboard with nine goals and 80 shots in Los Angeles' 5-4 win. The Kings had a number of two-goal leads throughout the night, including a 5-3 advantage late in the third period. With just over a minute to play in regulation, Brooks Laich scored his 13th goal of the season, closing the deficit to just one.

Jonathan Quick managed to hold on for the Kings in net, as Washington fired 22 shots on goal in the third period, and 45 for the game. Alex Ovechkin scored his 37th goal of the season -- and 200th of his career -- for the Capitals.

It wasn't long ago that the Ottawa Senators were the best team in the Eastern Conference, playing in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Anaheim Ducks. Really, it was only two years ago. Amazing how fast things can change.

Currently, the Senators find themselves in the 13th spot of the Conference -- tied with Atlanta -- with 39 points. Assuming it takes 90 points to qualify for the postseason, the Senators would need to close out this season with 51 points in 37 games. In other words, they would need to go 25-11-1.