Waived: [TOR] Maple Leafs waive C Jason Spezza and G Aaron Dell

[Red Piller]

Spezza is on his last legs as a 20+ year vet in this league. His retirement wouldn’t be some conspiracy, as he has legitimate reasons too. If he prefers to play in Toronto and Toronto only he has earned that right for sticking in the league as long as he has. No one can force him to play, he’s not contractually obligated nor does he need the peanuts owed to him.

It isn’t hurting the spirit of the process, since the situation itself is pretty unique.

None of that is the point and you know it. The point is the guy puts out a statement saying if you dare claim me I will retire so don’t bother. That is complete bullshit and should not be allowed what so ever. So nobody gets to claim this player on WAIVERS because he just won’t report? That is circumventing the waiver system.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Spezza is solid hope he doesn’t get claimed

Dell sucks who cares

Because after Dell, your next choice if Andersen or Campbell gets hurt is Michael Hutchinson. That's why people care if Dell gets claimed.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

None of that is the point and you know it. The point is the guy puts out a statement saying if you dare claim me I will retire so don’t bother. That is complete bullshit and should not be allowed what so ever. So nobody gets to claim this player on WAIVERS because he just won’t report? That is circumventing the waiver system.

Let's see if it becomes a habit for teams waiving players. If it does, I'm sure something will come up in regards to circumventing the waiver system.
In regards to waivers though:
Most players that get waived and get claimed look at it as a way out from a situation where I'm not good enough to play and another team is willing to put me on their NHL roster, so yes, if you don't want me, waive me.
Jason Spezza could care less. If he's not good enough to play on the Leafs, he doesn't want to play at all.

 

[kevsh]

None of that is the point and you know it. The point is the guy puts out a statement saying if you dare claim me I will retire so don’t bother. That is complete bullshit and should not be allowed what so ever. So nobody gets to claim this player on WAIVERS because he just won’t report? That is circumventing the waiver system.

All it would take is one GM to call the player's bluff. Is a player really going to retire solely because he threatened to? Doubtful.

 

[DFF]

I would claim Spezza, he is welcome to retire.

 

[CTZ181]

Im surprised at how many opposing fanbases want Jason Spezza lmao.

Reason number one billion why HF posters aren't NHL GMs.

We all love Spezza but all good things come to an end. Enjoy retirement Spezz. Unreal player.

 

[Red Piller]

Let's see if it becomes a habit for teams waiving players. If it does, I'm sure something will come up in regards to circumventing the waiver system.
In regards to waivers though:
Most players that get waived and get claimed look at it as a way out from a situation where I'm not good enough to play and another team is willing to put me on their NHL roster, so yes, if you don't want me, waive me.
Jason Spezza could care less. If he's not good enough to play on the Leafs, he doesn't want to play at all.

thats all well and good but if you can’t even be claimed then you shouldn’t be allowed to be on waivers. It’s just a way for them to move guys around with no chance of their guy being claimed because he refuses to report. That’s an issue

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

Reason number one billion why HF posters aren't NHL GMs.

We all love Spezza but all good things come to an end. Enjoy retirement Spezz. Unreal player.

He's not going to retire, as he's not going to be claimed. The fact this is 18 pages is kind of funny and sad at the same time.

 

[CaptBrannigan]

32, I actually know guys that played with him when we were youngins.

Local kid just has a nice ring to it.

Yeah, that’s odd. A nice ring if you consider “born close” a qualification I guess. Oh well, different strokes.

 

[uncleben]

yeh, hockey is a business and a competitive league.
A player can F off to ECHL if he wants to pick and choose what suits him best.

If there was a player available with skillset that your team could really use how would you feel if his agent comes out and threatens rest of GMs with player retiring if claimed.

League needs to take action against the agent and nip this issue in the bud.

What if Oilers waive Larsson to gain some cap and his agent tells other GMs do not dare claim him because he wont play on your team.

I mean, just this week, Chicago tried assigning Seeler to the AHL and he said, 'no, I won't report', and so Chicago cut ties with him and terminated his contract.

Players absolutely have every right to refuse any labour or assignment, but then, naturally, there likely will be consequences.

A team can claim Spezza, and if he doesn't want to play for them, he either has to formally retire (and consequently can't sign another contract for 3 years without explicit exception) or request the team terminate his contract and allow him to seek employment elsewhere in the League. At the point, the team can agree to it or they can suspend him and toll his contract.

 

[Mike Jones]

I would claim Spezza, he is welcome to retire.

That would seem like a waste of money (waiver claims cost $$) and good will. Would a GM want to do that?

 

[Ciao]

None of that is the point and you know it. The point is the guy puts out a statement saying if you dare claim me I will retire so don’t bother. That is complete bullshit and should not be allowed what so ever. So nobody gets to claim this player on WAIVERS because he just won’t report? That is circumventing the waiver system.

You would rather circumvent the retirement system?

Tell me -- how would you go about forcing players not to retire?

 

[Ciao]

All it would take is one GM to call the player's bluff. Is a player really going to retire solely because he threatened to? Doubtful.

Most players wouldn't want to retire rather than change teams, but most players aren't 37 year-old fathers of four playing in their home town on a league-minimum contract with $88-milion in career earnings under their belt.

Most players don't last more than five seasons, and most players on waivers haven't earned much and are just anxious for their next career opportunity.

Jason Spezza doesn't fit the mold for most players, and this is unlikely to be a trend.

Jason Spezza also has every right to retire -- and to announce his intention to do so -- if that's what he wants to do. It's not that he's earned it: it's just that every player has that right.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

You would rather circumvent the retirement system?

Tell me -- how would you go about forcing players not to retire?

Stomping feet and yelling loudly.

 

[MMC]

 

[Red Piller]

You would rather circumvent the retirement system?

Tell me -- how would you go about forcing players not to retire?

what does that even mean? So teams should be guilt tripped into not picking a guy up then? I would take Spezza, he’s better than what we’ve got going on and a 6th of the price.

 

[LeafChief]

Glad he didn't make it to the Oilers. Don't want to be helping within the division.

It was pretty much a given Dell would be claimed.

 

[LeafChief]

what does that even mean? So teams should be guilt tripped into not picking a guy up then? I would take Spezza, he’s better than what we’ve got going on and a 6th of the price.

Spezza cleared. Sorry everyone!

 

[Ciao]

what does that even mean? So teams should be guilt tripped into not picking a guy up then? I would take Spezza, he’s better than what we’ve got going on and a 6th of the price.

It means you can't force players not to retire, and you can't prevent them from threatening to retire. Its their legal right, and it's not at all a circumvention of anything.

Jason Spezza is now a much more beloved member of the Leafs than ever before. For him, at this stage of his career, it's the Leafs or nothing.

 

[llamateizer]

I would claim Spezza, he is welcome to retire.

What's the point of doing that beside sabotaging the end of career of a guy and try to hurt the Maple Leafs who can replace the guy easily
We're in a middle of a Pandemic where the NHL is trying to have a formula so they can play

 

[Red Piller]

sOmEoNe ShOuLd ClAiM sPeZzA tO StIcK iT tO tHe LeAfS

hE wOnT rEpOrT aNyWaY lOl

 

[Legion34]

yeh, hockey is a business and a competitive league.
A player can F off to ECHL if he wants to pick and choose what suits him best.

If there was a player available with skillset that your team could really use how would you feel if his agent comes out and threatens rest of GMs with player retiring if claimed.

League needs to take action against the agent and nip this issue in the bud.

What if Oilers waive Larsson to gain some cap and his agent tells other GMs do not dare claim him because he wont play on your team.

And forgo 4 million? Sure he could do that?

 

[DFF]

What's the point of doing that beside sabotaging the end of career of a guy and try to hurt the Maple Leafs who can replace the guy easily
We're in a middle of a Pandemic where the NHL is trying to have a formula so they can play

The NHL is a business, if they think he could help, they would claim him. Obviously, they dont. It's nothing to do with sabotage or pandemic.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

For all the weird temper tantrums last night he was never going to get claimed lol

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

hE wOnT rEpOrT aNyWaY lOl

Well it is what he said he'd do. It wasn't like random people were making outlandish claims, it's what his agent said.