Confirmed with Link: Jason Spezza Retires | Will Join Leafs Front Office

[Leafsfan74]

With his passion for the sport, city, veteran leadership and loyalty to the team, this was a predictable evolution for him fairly early upon his arrival I would say.

He really wanted to be here, his fight at the end of the CBJ series and inadvertent tackle of a guy who injured his teammate showed me he cared. He went outside his comfort zone, willing to adapt.

Many other former players have done the same as jt feeds their compeitive fire while allowing them to remain in the game responsible for their success.

Congrats on the new gig. The transition will probably be fairly smooth for him

 

[seventieslord]

If it was then I'll give Dubas credit. These are the discussions he needs to have and decisions he needs to make. Love Jason, but lets be honest, he's not what the leafs needed anymore. He did get to play for his home town, got to play some meaningful games while being close to his family

very well said.

I am sure he still wanted to play. But we knew it was in T.O. or nowhere. So if he's retiring it's cause Dubas told him there was no place for him on the ice anymore. And if so... good. I like what he did in limited minutes but the 3rd/4th lines need a new look, and a big part of that is going to be changing out a couple of skill-only players for Nick Paul/Corey Perry types. He's a fine player but he's exactly what I think Dubas is going to be trying to get away from down there, even if he'd take league minimum.

HHOF credentials

Don't be silly. Spezza is not really even that close to HHOF caliber, and 1000 points is only 5 more than 995. What he does at age 39 doesn't matter at all, it's about how good he was at his best, and at his best he was not a HHOF player.

 

[stickty111]

Congrats on a great career. Even in a short time, he is one of the most beloved Leafs in history. He always put the team first ahead of himself and looked to spark his team. What a class act as a player and person. Glad he's sticking around in the front office.

 

[AvroArrow]

Happy he is still with the organization

 

[GoodNewfieBoy]

Thanks Spezza for giving it your all to help the team. Sorry the fellas couldn’t get you the cup you so desired

 

[PromisedLand]

Oh man. I was hoping he could play just one more season. Get to 1000 points at least.

Thanks for your services and leadership Spezza.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

His new title will be Dressing Room Speech Specialist

Down 2-1 Stanley Cup finals Game 7...Dubas is like this is why we got you...

ALL RIGHT BOYS THIS IS HOW SHE'S GONNA!

All jokes aside good for him and glad he's still with us.

 

[PromisedLand]

Well he stayed true to his words. He'd either play for the Leafs or retire.

Hope the high AAV asshats who suck on ice and required a reminder to f***ing man up and play. could not self motivate and require Spezza to speak up are proud of themselves

 

[capfit9]

more inexperience in the front office is exactly what this organization needed. holy self preservation Kyle Dubas.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[Cleetus]

Congrats Spezza on a great Career, loved him here, but he is a student of the game, can see him doing very well in management....

 

[socko]

I very much appreciate Spezza's time with the Leafs. He played on a gift contract and was an inspiration for us fans tired of the greed at the top of the roster. Gonna miss that howitzer slapper he has.

 

[CuuuJooo]

It’s the right call for everyone involved. I really wish they’d find an off-ice role for Simmonds; I thought that Spezza was, overall, the more effective player.

 

[ponder]

Great guy, great player, great career. Sad to see him retire, but glad to see him stick with the Leafs and move into management. Seems like a good fit, he’s always been very driven and a natural leader.

 

[The Masters]

 

[Budz22]

Spezza for GM. He can't be any worse than Dubas

1. This post
2. Losing first round again
3. Spezza not being able to get 1000 points

Top 3 things happen to Leafs this season.

 

[trellaine201]

Great news! I am so happy they found a position for him! A true professional!

 

[horner]

If it was then I'll give Dubas credit. These are the discussions he needs to have and decisions he needs to make. Love Jason, but lets be honest, he's not what the leafs needed anymore. He did get to play for his home town, got to play some meaningful games while being close to his family

Knowing dubas he probably wanted him to come back and get 1000 points then retire but Spezza probably doesn't want it that way.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

so far CJ is 2 for 2 on his staying/going predictions

 

[Menzinger]

One of the players that I can say with certainty that I loved every minute he was a Leaf. Sad the team couldn't put together a deep run while he was here, but an absolute easy call to add him to the front office.

Hope he's with the team for decades to come in some way or the other.

 

[keonsbitterness]

What difference does it make if he finishes with 995 or 1000 points? Does it affect him economically in any way?

None at all. No.

 

[therealkoho]

A rough start to his career being always at loggerheads with Jacques Martin, but eventually he listened and became a premiere NHL centre. While maybe not a HoFer he had a great career, and earned a lot of respect around the league, both for his skill and for who he is as a man.

I know he'll find his way in this next chapter by bringing the same kind of focus, dedication and effort to any of the jobs the Leafs assign him to as he did to his on ice play. It will make the Bud's a that much stronger. Congrats Jason.

 

[TorMapleJays]

Not a fan of this. He was not the reason we lost to Tampa.

 

[HolyCrap]

Good for him. It’s funny this just got announced as I was chatting about this with my dad and said Leafs will give him a front office gig. Leafs will be a great pre-retirement option for players. They may not win a cup here but at least they get a comfy job and others will follow.

 

[wingman75]

I have always like Spezza, yea, even when he was a Senator. Amazing he got to go home and play, circumstances let him down.

As for Mike, whatever he is doing, he can go f*** himself every day until he dies. What loser sits a guy like Spezza in the home opener in his first game with his hometown team? Absolute garbage pos.

So, we basically use Spezza's money for Giordano; probably better value.