Spezza refused to waive no-trade for Predators

Bryan Murray addressed the very delicate situation surrounding the trading of Jason Spezza out of Ottawa.

Adding James Neal wasn’t enough to recruit Jason Spezza to the Nashville Predators.

According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray had a trade worked out with the Predators to acquire Spezza, but the veteran centre refused to waive his no-trade clause.

The Predators, who acquired Neal from the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first round of the NHL Draft on Friday, have made it a priority to add a play-making centre, which is why the team was interested in Spezza.

Spezza has one year remaining on a seven-year deal he signed back in 2007; his 2014-15 salary cap hit is $7 million. He requested a trade from his longtime team last month after scoring 23 goals and 43 assists with 46 penalty minutes and a minus-26 rating in 75 games in 2013-14.

The 31-year-old has spent 11 seasons with the Senators since being drafted by the team second overall in the 2001 NHL Draft. He has amassed 687 points in 686 career regular-season games with the Senators, plus another 52 points in 56 post-season appearances.

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