Jason Spezza’s Retirement Will Not Effect Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs will not miss Jason Spezza, who just retired to join the team’s front office.

Jason Spezza was a bright spot in the Toronto Maple Leafs line-up every night, but he won’t be missed.

The 38-year-old spent the last three seasons of his career in Toronto, living out his childhood dream. As a local kid, all Spezza ever wanted to do was dawn the blue-and-white, and now he’ll get to continue living that dream in the front office.

As a member of the Leafs front office, Spezza is still going to be at the rink every day. If any player wants his wisdom, he’ll be easily accessible and he’ll still be able to bring a smile to the guys he fought with every night.

However, as a member of the Leafs, Spezza didn’t help Toronto win anything. In fact, he’s never won a Stanley Cup before, so losing him in the line-up isn’t as hurtful as one thinks.

The Toronto Sun’s, Steve Simmons wrote that Spezza was the “conscience” of the team. 

If he’s the conscience of the team, then the Leafs have a huge issue. When Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau were previously brought in, they were supposed to provide leadership and guidance and be the “dad’s” of the room to help develop a young team.

However, the same result happened with both players and the same thing happened with Spezza: they lost in the First Round.

Spezza rallied the team a few times during the playoffs, but each time, they lost the series. He stepped up and fought during the “play-in round” against Columbus which sparked Toronto when he doesn’t normally fight. Then, just as recently as three weeks ago, he supposedly provided an unreal intermission speech which sparked Toronto to win Game 5 at home against Tampa Bay.

Jason Spezza Retirement Will Not Affect Toronto Maple Leafs Outcome

Spezza’s leadership skills obviously can’t be measured, but if he’s the player supplying the jam to get the rest of the squad motivated, Toronto’s core is in big-trouble.

This team should be led by Auston Matthews and John Tavares. The captain and the best player should be the leader’s in the room and the players who motivate the rest of the group. If the best players aren’t the one’s supplying the motivation, then maybe the core is broken?

If Spezza is the glue to get the boys firing in a meaningful game, then maybe a big trade needs to happen, because clearly the nucleus of this team is dead.

At the end of the day, the Toronto Maple Leafs are losing a player who scored 12 goals and registered 25 points (hockeydb.com) who makes the league minimum. The last part of that sentence is the most critical part of him leaving, because Toronto now needs to replace that offense at the same price.

Realistically it shouldn’t be that big of a deal. Someone like Nick Abruzzese or Nick Robertson should be able to easily score 25 points in a season, and fill Spezza’s role while making the league minimum.

So although Spezza is a loveable player and a fan-favorite, his absence will not effect anything when the Leafs get ready for next season.

If his leadership was so important over the past few years, the Toronto Maple Leafs wouldn’t have been First Round losers every year and they would have actually done something when it mattered.

At least by retiring and staying with the club, he’ll still be able to win a Stanley Cup if the Leafs finally win one while he’s employed.