Spezza, Leafs haven’t talked deal
Three young reasons fuel his desire to return
TORONTO — As often as Jason Spezza has spent his first season with the Maple Leafs — we’re not going to use the past tense yet — being sought out by his teammates for his wisdom, the veteran of more than 1,100 National Hockey League games has been taking mental notes.
Spezza, who has the kind of hockey brain that would make him a fine coach one day, allowed himself a little smile whenever he would look around the room and cast a glance at Huston Matthews, Mitch Marner or William Nylander.
Members of Leafs Nation who find the lack of hockey an unwelcome consequence of the global COVID-19 pandemic should be buoyed by a rather simple fact: The Leafs’ youth should ensure years of success, if not strong cracks at it, once the sport resumes.
It’s one reason why Spezza, who will turn 37 in June, would love to not only play beyond the 2019-20 season, but would prefer to do so with the Leafs. He wants to win the Stanley Cup, and figures his hometown team will have a legitimate shot to do so relatively soon.
Spezza’s agent, Rick Curran, told the Toronto Sun on Monday that the subject of Spezza returning to the Leafs after this season has not been broached with general manager Kyle Dubas. Once this season is in the books, Spezza becomes an unrestricted free agent.
“There have not been discussions with the Maple Leafs and nor would we expect there to be,” Curran said. “There’s no need for it right now. There will be plenty of time for that.”
Spezza didn’t know either Marner or Matthews before he signed a one-year, US $700,000 deal with the Leafs last summer. A number of factors drive Spezza in his desire to continue his career, among them the skill and attitude the Leafs’ pair of budding 22-yearold superstars possess.
“I have been really impressed with Mitchy — the excitement, the enthusiasm, the energy he brings every day, he has an infectious personality,” Spezza said recently. “The guys loved being around him, he’s kind of like an Energizer Bunny, going around the rink and always yapping at guys, always has a good demeanour.”
The work ethic on the part of Matthews and his ability to break down the game was revealing to Spezza.
“I have really taken to Matts, the sense that he loves the game, he works really hard at it,” Spezza said. “I think people don’t know how dedicated he is and how much effort he puts into his game and how much thinking (he does).
“I can relate to him a lot that way because that’s how I was as a younger player. You can tell he has that fire and I want to help him be the best version of himself that he can be. Those are exciting guys to have in the locker room with you, because there are no limits to what we can be as a team when you have high-end guys like that.”
Put Nylander — who turns 24 on Friday — in that group as well. The narrative that Nylander was overpaid by the Leafs when he struggled after signing a six-year, $45-million contract on Dec. 1, 2018, rightfully has been ruined. With 59 points this season, including 31 goals, in 68 games, Nylander’s depth as a player was on display.
“Willie is a guy who works really hard on his game, he loves the game, he practises a lot on his skill,” Spezza said. “At times he probably lacked confidence, but he came up with a belief in his game and understanding what he has to do night in and night out to be a dominant player.
“He added (determination) in around the net a little more and got rewarded. It snowballs. You feel what it’s like to start scoring every night. You could see the confidence growing. He has the outwardly confidence, but as a player, it’s that knowing night to night how consistent you have to be.
“(Coach) Sheldon (Keefe) really helped Willie gain a level of consistency in his game (to the point) where a lot of nights he was one of the best players on the ice.”
WARD RETIRES, REVEALS TIES TO LEAFS
Joel Ward officially retired from the National Hockey League this week, and in doing so revealed that his mom, Cecilia, has a rather soft spot for the Maple Leafs.
In an essay published by The Players’ Tribune, Ward, who has not played since the 2017-18 season with the San Jose Sharks, said he would get texts from his mom every so often including some about the Leafs: “Why isn’t Babcock playing Nylander with Matthews? What’s he doing?”
Ward recalled going to Leafs games at Maple Leaf Gardens with his father, who died when Ward was 14.
Ward, who grew up in Scarborough, played in 726 NHL games, enjoying a hardwon career after spending four years at the University of Prince Edward Island from 2001-05, which followed four seasons with Owen Sound of the Ontario Hockey League.
He played for Minnesota, Nashville, Washington and San Jose, recording 304 points.