Jason Spezza has been named the new captain of the Ottawa Senators. The team's captaincy was vacated when Daniel Alfredsson, who was the NHL's longest-tenured captain, left for Detroit via free agency. Spezza has been the favorite to get the "C" since that happened and the team made it official on Saturday. He should bounce back nicely in 2013-14 after recovering from a back injury that caused him to miss the majority of the lockout-shortened season. Don't forget about him on draft day.

With training camp scheduled to open on Wednesday, Jason Spezza is getting excited to play again. "It has been a long time since I've been in games, so I'm excited to get going again," he said. The Senators top center missed 43 games with a back injury last season, which required surgery to repair. He returned for three contests in the playoffs, but wasn't at full health. He sustained a knee injury in March during his recovery. Spezza appears to be ready to put his injury woes behind him heading into training camp. He skated alongside Bobby Ryan in Monday's informal session, so that the two of them could start to learn each other's tendencies.

Jason Spezza believes he would be a great fit to be the Senators' next captain. Coach Paul MacLean has no timetable for when he will name Daniel Alfredsson's replacement, but Spezza is certainly at the front of the candidate list. "The last few years I've been expected to be a leader on our team and had to make some changes to different things," Spezza said. "I think leadership is something that comes naturally, and I feel like I'm naturally a leader in our dressing room. It's scarier if you're going to be appointed a role and you feel like you're not ready for it, but for me I feel like I wouldn't change too much."

Jason Spezza isn't fretting over being left off Canada's invitation list for their Olympic orientation camp. "For me, I'm more excited just to play," Spezza said Monday after an informal scrimmage at the Bell Sensplex. "I missed the full season, and I have high expectations that when I'm healthy I can play well. It's not my focus, by no means. It's a little bit of motivation. Maybe it gives me a little chip on my shoulder. But it's not my motivation for success this year." He received a courtesy call from Canada's brass and they explained that his back injury was the main reason why he wasn't invited.

Jason Spezza, likely to be identified in the near future as the new captain of the Ottawa Senators, says he is doing well after knee surgery. "I had the knee surgery directly after the season at the end of May," Spezza said. "It has gone really smoothly. It hasn't held me back. It was four or five weeks of basic rehab and since then it hasn't held me back at all. No problem. A pain more than anything. My back has been really good. It was nice for me to play those games in the playoffs even though I wasn't 100%. To play, helped me get confidence going into my training. I've been training really hard here all summer. It has responded pretty well. I'm pretty enthused with how it feels right now."

Jason Spezza spoke to Wayne Scanlan of the Ottawa Citizen about a number of topics recently and one of them was possibly becoming the next captain of the Senators. "You never knew when it was going to happen, or if it would happen - but the best thing for me if I become captain - and I don't know if I will be or not - I won't have to change anything," he said. "I'm ready for more responsibility and we have great leadership. With Alfie, Philly (Chris Phillips) and Chris Neil, we led as a group and that won't change. For me, it would be a huge honor but I won't have to change much." Spezza also commented that his injured knee and back should be fine for the upcoming season. He is also looking forward to playing alongside newcomer Bobby Ryan and rebounding from his injury-plagued 2013 campaign.

Jason Spezza suffered a knee injury in March while recovering from his back problem. Spezza consequently played through a torn meniscus when he returned in the second round. He'll need to have his knee scoped, but he should be fine in about three weeks.

Ottawa coach Paul MacLean reunited Jason Spezza with Daniel Alfredsson and Milan Michalek for Game 5. MacLean was hoping that putting together the Sens' top line of last season would light a spark under his team. Alas, it did not work as the unit was essentially ineffective in a 6-2 elimination loss to the Penguins. The good news, is that Spezza seemed to get through the game and the series without any problems with his back. He should be fine for 2013-14 and will likely be an 80-point threat.

Jason Spezza reported no ill effects after playing in his first game in Sunday since having back surgery. "I feel good," Spezza said Monday. "To play a double-overtime game and coming out no worse for wear is definitely positive for me and encouraging that I made the right decision [to play]. I took a pretty good pounding and played more than we had initially planned, but it's all positive and I hope to get even better as we go on." He was nailed on a big hit from Pittsburgh's Craig Adams in the first overtime session, which proved to be a good test.

Jason Spezza logged 18:40 of ice time in his return to Ottawa's lineup Sunday night in Game 3. He won 60 percent of his faceoffs and posted four shots after being sidelined since Jan. 27 due to a back injury which required surgery. Spezza understands that even though he feels much better, back issues can be something that linger. "It's better than before I had surgery, but it's going to take awhile before I feel 100 percent," he said. "Once you have back problems, they never really leave you. It's kind of a daily grind. I've done exercises every day for the last six years. My wife doesn't like when I have to sit on the floor and stretch instead of sitting on the couch with her. I wouldn't wish back pain on my worst enemy."