Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Spezza is set to become a UFA at the end of the 2019-20 season.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Spezza is up for a new contract at the end of the 2019-20 season and the question is will they re-sign him, will they let him walk, or will he retire?
With Spezza being 36 he feels like he has some game left in him to compete in the NHL next year, but do the Toronto Maple Leafs think the same?
I’ll also be discussing what a potential contract extension could look like for Jason Spezza.
Jason Spezza Wants to Stay in Toronto
On Tuesday afternoon Jason Spezza was on Leafs Lunch talking with Andi Petrillo and Kristen Shilton about a potential return to Toronto for the NHL veteran next season.
Jason stated he would love to return to Toronto, that he loves playing in Toronto, and loves being a Maple Leaf as well. He also said he feels like he has some game left in him to play in the NHL despite him entering his late 30s.
Jason Spezza on wanting to remain with #Leafs beyond this season when he becomes a UFA again: "My intention is to keep playing, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) April 21, 2020
What Should Spezza’s new Contract Look Like?
Jason Spezza is up for a new contract, and since he wants to return to Toronto next season and he will most likely be cheap yet again let’s see what a possible contract extension could look like for him.
2019-20 stats – 58 GP – 9 G – 16 A – 25 PTS – TOI 10:49 (Stats from NHL.com)
Since Spezza signed for one year at $700K for the 2019-20 season which was a bargain by the way with the way he produced in the 58 games he suited up for.
I believe that if he returns to Toronto it will be a similar contract, maybe more term but possibly around the same AAV. I’m thinking a respectable contract extension for Spezza should be…
2 years x $800K signed through the 2021-22 season
This contract is a win win on both sides, Jason Spezza gets a two year deal to play until he’s 38 (birthday is in middle of June) and although another contract for him is under $1M he has earned around $88M in his entire career so I think he will be fine taking another big pay cut to try to win a Stanley Cup.
On the Toronto Maple Leafs side of things they get a veteran player on their team for another two years at a very cheap price, and for that price Spezza can still put up 30 point maybe even 40 point seasons if he continues how he played this past season.
Spezza is a great fit on the Leafs fourth line and second power-play unit. Expect to see him back again next year.