Jason Spezza

[LeafsNation75]

This is a great picture of Spezza when he scored his 3rd goal to get the hat trick.

 

[LeafsNation75]

 

[ShaneFalco]

Spezza is a guy who will be valuable in playoffs too

 

[LeafsNation75]

Spezza is a guy who will be valuable in playoffs too

Don't forget he had that fight in Game 4 of their play-in series against Columbus.

 

[mix1home]

He looks fresh. I think shorter season might benefit him and he will have enough in the tank for playoffs.
I think at 35+ yo he was usually exhausted by the end of professional hockey season in Dallas and with us and not as effective. Keep it up.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Spezza was featured in the most recent episode of The Leaf: Blueprint.

 

[namttebih]

Would it be out of the question to try Spezza in a 3rd line role? I’d really like to see what he could do with some more ice time and better line mates. He’s very noticeable whenever he’s on the ice. This could also possibly spread out the scoring.

Matthews Marner
Tavares Thornton
Spezza Nylander

I’d also like to see Brooks in the 4C slot. Enough trying to stick square pegs into round holes.

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

Would it be out of the question to try Spezza in a 3rd line role? I’d really like to see what he could do with some more ice time and better line mates. He’s very noticeable whenever he’s on the ice. This could also possibly spread out the scoring.

Matthews Marner
Tavares Thornton
Spezza Nylander

I’d also like to see Brooks in the 4C slot. Enough trying to stick square pegs into round holes.

I didn’t mind Kerfoot on the wing last game. Thought he had one of his best games.

 

[namttebih]

I didn’t mind Kerfoot on the wing last game. Thought he had one of his best games.

Kerfoot, Hyman and Soup to fill out the remaining top 9 wing spots.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

 

[Dave92]

You can tell his pedigree is just levels above the journeymen he plays with and against in the bottom 6.

Might not have the athleticism he did 15 years ago but he's been a fantastic addition, never expected to like him as much as i do.

 

[TopChedder]

You can tell his pedigree is just levels above the journeymen he plays with and against in the bottom 6.

Might not have the athleticism he did 15 years ago but he's been a fantastic addition, never expected to like him as much as i do.

He is honestly absolutely fantastic. When you factor in the contract, and the experience he shares with younger players we are lucky to have him.

He still does so much on the ice!

 

[Stephen]

Spezza's scoring at a nearly 50 point pace in limited ice time this year. Seems like the perfect workload for a veteran.

 

[deltamachine]

You can tell his pedigree is just levels above the journeymen he plays with and against in the bottom 6.

Might not have the athleticism he did 15 years ago but he's been a fantastic addition, never expected to like him as much as i do.

Can certainly teach Ilya a thing or two about freezing the goalie.

 

[Le Cobra]

MVP - Jason Spezza is our most valuable player when you take into account the amount of points he is putting up per dollar of his salary. Such a steal

 

[Kelly]

Best "4th liner" in the league ainec

 

[Golden_Jet]

Somehow need to find Spezza more minutes, he must be second or third on team in points/ 60 minutes.

 

[Not My Tempo]

He has 40 points in his last 82 games playing like 10 mins a night. In Marleau’s good season with us he had 47 playing way more minutes.

Turns out you don’t need to pay 6M for leadership and vets.

 

[Suntouchable13]

He has 40 points in his last 82 games playing like 10 mins a night. In Marleau’s good season with us he had 47 playing way more minutes.

Turns out you don’t need to pay 6M for leadership and vets.

Spezza, Thornton, Simmonds signings are the way to go. Not Marleau for 6M+ for 3 years. Lou Lam with all of his years of experience didn't understand that.

 

[sxvnert]

Would it be out of the question to try Spezza in a 3rd line role?

Playing on the fourth line is more about load management than capability. They've found that sweet spot at 10-12 min.

 

[sxvnert]

Lou Lam with all of his years of experience didn't understand that.

Lou bought into whatever Babcock was selling and all his moves reflected that.

 

[keonsbitterness]

Spezza, Thornton, Simmonds signings are the way to go. Not Marleau for 6M+ for 3 years. Lou Lam with all of his years of experience didn't understand that.

Really the only way we can go financially, but the good part is we're an attractive destination because of our talent.

As for Marleau, paying him 6M for two years was low risk because our young stars were all on ELCs. Giving him that third year was just plain stupid.

 

[zeke]

Really the only way we can go financially, but the good part is we're an attractive destination because of our talent.

As for Marleau, paying him 6M for two years was low risk because our young stars were all on ELCs. Giving him that third year was just plain stupid.

Other teams take advantage of having elite players on ElCs by using the capspace to sign other elite players, not plugs like Marleau and zaitsev.

 

[Stephen]

Really the only way we can go financially, but the good part is we're an attractive destination because of our talent.

As for Marleau, paying him 6M for two years was low risk because our young stars were all on ELCs. Giving him that third year was just plain stupid.

It’s hard to look back fondly on the Marleau experience but the positive takeaway is it established the model of a late career former star coming to Toronto to hunt for a cup, which Spezza and Thornton have followed. Hopefully this continues with guys like E. Staal, Getzlaf, Crosby and whomever in the coming years. I’m half joking about Crosby. But kind of not.

 

[BertCorbeau]

In 81 games over two seasons Spezza has 14 goals, 26 assists averaging under 11 minutes of ice time while playing a key role in the second PP unit and as a face-off man on the PK (with a 56% face off rate).

For $700k.