Confirmed with Link: Spezza is back!

[Lauro]

I think having a career loser in Marleau mentor our young guys was more damaging than we give it credit for. Marleau never had a great playoff year himself, didn’t play like a warrior or sacrifice the body to win, and squeezed every penny out the Leafs when he signed here. No wonder our two best players are the way they are, look at who their mentor was.

Exactly. Another desastrous Lamoriello move.

 

[Toronto makebeleifs]

Such a beauty player and person. This team doesnt deserve a guy like this, hes too good for this group of chokers. Still though, im rooting for spezz to have another solid campaign.

 

[Aashir]

Kind of wish he signed with Tampa/avs/a real contender. From dropping the gloves in game 4 to being a top 3 scorer on the team, this man has done it all for us. He deserves to win a cup the most out of anyone here, and 2 1st round exits are not fitting to what he’s poured into the team. Just leave us and win yourself Spez.

 

[ryno23]

is there any reason why Spezza couldn't play RW on the 3rd line. Sure you might have to manage his minutes here and there to keep him fresh but why bury him on the 4th line. Roberston and he on the 3rd line with a C who has some size and skill and you have a 3rd line who can score and not need to be sheltered. Depending on who you can find for that spot you can have that line cost you under 4 million or less way less than what they had with Kerfoot and Simmonds on it. You then can assemble a 4th line with some size, grit and skill. Mik can be on the 4th line plus find 2 more guys.

Key is to manage Spezza minutes and some games maybe he swaps with the 4th line RW or during games he goes back to 4RW but having him with better players just makes sense

 

[Magic Man]

The best bang for your buck signing in the league, His production from the 4th line is excellent and he's great on draws. Made sense to get him done early. He's not much of a risk to lose to Seattle, like Hyman.

 

[Pure Slaughter Value]

Isles fan here thinking this is about as smart as a move the Leafs can make. He's really accepted being a role player and has been an excellent one. Couple that with the absurd price and it's a huge retention for this franchise.

 

[Mess]

Spezza is 38 years old and about to head into an 82 game season, where the last 2 were cut short against a higher QofC.

The end is near.

 

[RoadWarrior]

Spezza is 38 years old and about to head into an 82 game season, where the last 2 were cut short against a higher QofC.

The end is near.

The end may be near but he can give you a high quality 10 minutes of ice time. His points per 60 minutes was top 10 in the league.

 

[AvroArrow]

Give him the A. The only guy that shows up every single night ready to work, great attitude.

 

[Menzinger]

Spezza is 38 years old and about to head into an 82 game season, where the last 2 were cut short against a higher QofC.

The end is near.

Interestingly Marleau signed his three year deal with the Leafs just 2 months shy of his 38th birthday.

Spezza is certainly nearing the back half of the back 9 of his career. Though hopefully he has a couple strong seasons left in him.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Rooting for Spezz to get his silver stick this year, think he needs 30 points. Agree with poster above, give him an A.

 

[keonsbitterness]

Spezza is 38 years old and about to head into an 82 game season, where the last 2 were cut short against a higher QofC.

The end is near.

It probably is, but the risk with a league minimum contract is as low as it gets.

 

[Antropovsky]

Meh... not sure how I feel about this. His production was great and he was clutch... and I gained alot of respect for him this past year.. but I feel like he brings little leadership beyond his dependable/clutch offensive play.

Should we have brought in a different older guy who brings more of the killer instinct but maybe less production (in the bottom six) or more production in the top six (if affordable) and leave the rest of the roster spots for younger guys to develop (ex Brooks, Robertson). At this point though I guess we have minimal players ready to step in.

My fear is we let a good young energy player like Barabanov slip through the cracks because we had too many veterans plugging roster spots.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Meh... not sure how I feel about this. His production was great and he was clutch... and I gained alot of respect for him this past year.. but I feel like he brings little leadership beyond his dependable/clutch offensive play.

Should we have brought in a different older guy who brings more of the killer instinct but maybe less production (in the bottom six) or more production in the top six (if affordable) and leave the rest of the roster spots for younger guys to develop (ex Brooks, Robertson). At this point though I guess we have minimal players ready to step in.

My fear is we let a good young energy player like Barabanov slip through the cracks because we had too many veterans plugging roster spots.

Fairly sure he embodies a lot of what the Leafs want in the locker room out of their veterans. Having one guy like him in the lineup is healthy. Having Thornton and Simmonds in the lineup as well is where it falls apart.

Also, Leafs should not be losing sleep over Barabanov. He was given chances and he was bad for the most part. We have other guys on the Marlies who are worth more of a chance (Malgin, Brooks, and Anderson most notably, and I imagine none of them are in the top 12 to start the season), and we just signed Semyonov too.

 

[cannucky]

People pumping his tires about how he is such a great guy taking a hometown discount need to recognize he made over 88 million in his career and in his prime he hit Ottawa for 49 million over 7 years which was 13.92 %CH so he didn't cut anybody any breaks when he was trying to earn his bag he made another 30 million over 4 years from Dallas after that and for reference Marner makes 13.38 %CH and this is his first contract he hasn't put 88 million in the bank yet .

 

[egd27]

Spezza is 38 years old and about to head into an 82 game season, where the last 2 were cut short against a higher QofC.

The end is near.

It is, but Kid Kyle needs the feel good story.

It's so bad right now we're actually excited about signing a 38 year old to a league minimum contract.

No disrespect to Spezza intended

 

[Golden_Jet]

People pumping his tires about how he is such a great guy taking a hometown discount need to recognize he made over 88 million in his career and in his prime he hit Ottawa for 49 million over 7 years which was 13.92 %CH so he didn't cut anybody any breaks when he was trying to earn his bag he made another 30 million over 4 years from Dallas after that and for reference Marner makes 13.38 %CH and this is his first contract he hasn't put 88 million in the bank yet .

Actually it was 12.3% as cap was 56.7 million for 08/09 season when salary kicked in for year 1.
He signed in November 2007, and for longer term.

 

[leafsfan5]

I still remember Kasimir Kaskisuo’s first game (and only ever game). We were against the Pens and it was one of Babs final games as coach. The team did not care, let their goalie in his FIRST GAME out to dry instead of playing for him. Kasimir played his heart out while giving up 6 and we got destroyed 6-1. Guess who was the only player to score that game and give a damn?

Jason Spezza. He honestly deserves a letter on his jersey

 

[Mess]

It is, but Kid Kyle needs the feel good story.

It's so bad right now we're actually excited about signing a 38 year old to a league minimum contract.

No disrespect to Spezza intended

That move doesn't change anything, and 1 less move off the board to make.

Spezza now one of the 3 players you likely plan on filling out the 4th line with and used in a limited resource.

Essentially doesn't hurt, but it also doesn't help, so doesn't change anything and uses up a roster spot the same as last year.

 

[GardinerTheForward]

Relax bud. Let’s not throw accusations at people like that for a benign comment.
Too much of that crap going on in our world. Doesn’t need to happen here.

Not a benign comment. It was belittling. There was not any implied anger / verbal attack back as far as I can tell. I think by telling Allday28 to back off, others have identified themselves as intolerant of the LGBTQ+TS community. Please - no hate speech

 

[GardinerTheForward]

Laughing at a logo is a far cry from being homophobic dude chill out

What’s funny about it

 

[cannucky]

Actually it was 12.3% as cap was 56.7 million for 08/09 season when salary kicked in for year 1.
He signed in November 2007, and for longer term.

Not according to Capfriendly but way to deflect from the actual point which is Spezza isn't doing us a favour he made as much money as he could squeeze out of the NHL and now he is searching for a cup. .

 

[socko]

Not according to Capfriendly but way to deflect from the actual point which is Spezza isn't doing us a favour he made as much money as he could squeeze out of the NHL and now he is searching for a cup. .

The guy who finished third on the team in P60 this season, ahead of both Tavares and Nylander, and took a league minimum contract isn't doing us a favor? Tough crowd.

What he made previously with other teams is irrelevant to whether he is doing the Leafs a favor now. Is Matthews going to play for league minimum for us when his current contract is up?

Searching for a Cup with the Leafs? Come on, he's smarter than that.

 

[axlrose87]

Not a benign comment. It was belittling. There was not any implied anger / verbal attack back as far as I can tell. I think by telling Allday28 to back off, others have identified themselves as intolerant of the LGBTQ+TS community. Please - no hate speech

Hahahahaha come on man

 

[Golden_Jet]

Not according to Capfriendly but way to deflect from the actual point which is Spezza isn't doing us a favour he made as much money as he could squeeze out of the NHL and now he is searching for a cup. .

lol