Spezza facing Senators for first time with Stars; Chiasson also returns for Ottawa
DALLAS -- Tuesday's game between the Ottawa Senators and Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center will mark a first in the long and successful career of Stars center Jason Spezza.
That's because Spezza, who had spent his entire career with the Sens prior to being traded to Dallas last summer, will face his former employer for the first time.
"I think it's nice to catch up and see everybody. It'll be different, being on the other side, but it's long enough into the season now where I'm a Dallas Star and I feel like this is my team," Spezza said after morning skate."
However, when the Stars travel to Ottawa on Jan. 29 as part of a three-game road trip, he knows his emotions will be much stronger.
"It'll be different going back to Ottawa. I think it'll probably be a little more nostalgic, but here it's more a good opportunity to catch up and looking forward to trying to get a win tonight," Spezza said.
Stars second-year head coach Lindy Ruff found out what that was like last season when he returned to Buffalo for the first time since the Sabres had fired their now former longtime coach and there's certain things the veteran NHL coach has come to expect from players facing their former club for the first time.
"Well, I imagine there's going to be some emotion involved. Being in Ottawa so long, I think it'll maybe take a couple shifts to get into the routine, but I think he understands the importance of the game for us. But at the same time, it's a team he played his whole career with," Ruff said.
However, Spezza isn't the only one facing his former team for the first time on Tuesday. Former Stars winger Alex Chiasson, who came up through the organization and played his first full NHL season for Dallas last season, was part of the Spezza trade and he too is looking forward to this rather unique experience.
"Yeah, mixed emotion for sure. I didn't think it was going to be like that. I thought it was going to be just any regular road game. I honestly didn't get much sleep last night. This organization really gave me my first chance and as a player, you have to appreciate that," Chiasson said on Tuesday morning.
And even though Chiasson is no longer part of the Dallas organization, he remains indebted to the likes of former general manager Joe Nieuwendyk as well as current Stars GM Jim Nill for all they both did to help accelerate his development during his 86-game run in Big D.
"Not everyone gets to play in the NHL and when Joe Nieuwendyk was here, gave me my first chance and Jim Nill helped me a lot last year with the coaching staff," Chiasson said. "I have a lot of good friends on the other team, guys that know what we went through last year. With all the ups and downs, we made it to playoff. You can't forget about the friendships and the guy you battled next to. Maybe the first shift tonight will be just make it a quick one and I'm sure (after that) it will turn into a regular game."
MORE FROM FOX SPORTS SOUTHWEST:
- Highest paid coaches in college football
- Ranking NFL quarterback salaries
- Oldest player on every NBA team
