It has been a somewhat frustrating start for the Toronto Maple Leafs to the 2021 season.
Before beating Las Vegas last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs had scuffled to record of 4-4-1, which had them tied for 4th in the Atlantic Division with the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
Not exactly the start for either team that most people were expecting.
While some of the Leafs players have left a lot to be desired with their performances to this point in the season, one player has stood above the rest. This player has not quit. This player continues to work hard every night. This player does all of the things that you won’t see on the stat sheet. He kept fighting and working even when it seemed as if all was lost.
His name is Jason Spezza and he exemplifies everything that is best about a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey player: dedication, leadership, hard work, and taking accountability with the fans and media afterwards.
Toronto Maple Leafs and Jason Spezza
For these reasons mentioned above, not to mention his excellent play while other struggled, I feel that it is only right that Toronto Maple Leafs center Jason Spezza be recognized as their best player in the opening month of the 2021 season.
You could make an argument for captain and center John Tavares in this spot as he has been one of the Leafs most consistent players to this point as well. Where Spezza has separated himself is his willingness to to the little things.
He doesn’t give up on face-offs, he fights for loose pucks, he is willing to battle it out in the corners. Most importantly he doesn’t give up.
If you could instill his hard working mentality into arguably the Leafs most talented player in Auston Matthews, there would be no way to stop this team. Jason Spezza is the type of player I make sure to point out to my seven year old son as he watches. Jason Spezza is what I want to see out of this team. Pure professionalism, toughness, grit, and a never-say-die attitude.
Spezza started this season with three goals and five points through the first nine games. Not only has Spezza played excellent, but his early season scoring prowess also led to him passing two more players on the NHL’s all-time scoring leaderboard. (quanthockey.com).
So far this year, Spezza has passed Shane Doan and Andy Bathgate to move into 97th place all-time 975 points. He is now just 11 points behind Toronto Maple Leafs great Dave Keon, and could even move past Lanny McDonald into 90th place by the end of the season.