Senators Defend Jason Spezza's Stick

On Monday, we showed you the video of Ottawa Senators forward Jason Spezza getting busted with an illegal stick. It's not something that happens all that often, and it was certainly a gutsy call by Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson to ask for the measurement late in a 2-1 hockey game. Actually, it was a brilliant call, even if the Maple Leafs failed to take advantage of the ensuing power play.

The Senators, however, don't feel Spezza's stick broke any rules and would like to have some clarification on what is legal and what is not. Here's some help, guys.

From Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun:

"There's a lot of grey area because the way we interpret the rule, it was not an illegal stick, so we're going to get some clarification from the league," said Senators coach Cory Clouston. "(The league) is saying it's illegal. We're trying to clarify where you take the measurement. "If every one is measured from the very tip, then they're all illegal. It's worded very strangely. Do we like the call? No. But (Wilson) did whatever he could within the rules to win the game."

Here's the problem with this argument from the Senators: Spezza obviously knew his stick was against the rules based on his attempt to not only break the blade before the refs could look at it, but by the way he also attempted to replace it with a different stick from the bench. Presumably one that was legal.

If you felt it was legal, why the effort to snap it and replace it? It's just common sense.

The illegal stick penalty is a rare occurrence in the NHL, as the most recent players I can find to have been penalized for it were Ducks forward Teemu Selanne in April, 2007, and Atlanta Thrashers forward Ilya Kovalchuk.