The Dallas Stars began a four-game road trip with Jason Spezza watching in his civvies as the centre was made a healthy scratch for Monday’s game against the Boston Bruins.
The lineup move was head coach Ken Hitchcock’s call, the team announced prior to puck-drop.
Spezza has struggled to produce with just 16 points in 44 games this season after scoring 50 points in 68 appearances in 2016-17. The 34-year-old is scoreless in his past five games, registering five shots on goal and averaging 13:18 of ice time.
“I think he knows he can be better too and we need more from him,” Stars general manger Jim Nill said via Scott Burnside. “I think we got a really good thing going here and he’s a big part of it, he’s one of our leaders and we want him at his best.”
Nill added that he expects Spezza to be inserted back into the lineup Tuesday when the Stars visit the Detroit Red Wings.
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