About Jason Spezza
Jason Rocco Anthony Spezza (born June 13, 1983) is a Canadian ice hockey executive and former professional player. He is currently the assistant general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL), and the general manager of their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Spezza's career as an NHL centre spanned 19 seasons, from 2002 to 2022. After beginning his major junior career at the early age of 15 in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Spezza was selected second overall in the 2001 NHL entry draft by the Ottawa Senators, eventually serving as their team captain following the departure of Daniel Alfredsson. Playing in the AHL in 2004–05 due to the NHL lockout, he won the Les Cunningham Award as league MVP with the Binghamton Senators. In 2005–06, Spezza set an Ottawa Senators franchise record with 71 assists, while hitting the 90-point mark for the first of two times in his NHL career. He later played for the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs. Following his retirement, he spent a year in the Maple Leafs' front office, before taking his current role with the Penguins. Internationally, Spezza represented Canada at three World Junior Championships and two World Championships. When he made his World Junior debut in 2000, he became the third 16-year-old in history to make the team, after Wayne Gretzky and Eric Lindros. At age one, Spezza won a baby contest and began his youth modelling career. Playing in the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2004–05 due to the NHL lockout, he won the Les Cunningham Award as league MVP with the Binghamton Senators. Spezza played 19 career seasons in the NHL from 2002 to 2022.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.