Can Jason Spezza Drill Some Sense Into Kyle Dubas?
Jason Spezza has retired from playing in the NHL, and will be joining the Maple Leafs’ front office as a special assistant to Kyle Dubas, per Sportsnet.
Jason Spezza has announced his retirement from the NHL after 19 seasons. He will now join the Maple Leafs' front office as a special assistant to Kyle Dubas. pic.twitter.com/zKROpzD3xT
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 29, 2022
After playing in the league for 19 seasons, being in the locker room for the Ottawa Senators, Dallas Stars, and Toronto Maple Leafs, does that experience provide value to Kyle Dubas and potentially drilling some sense into the general manager with a seemingly infinite amount of rope?
Back in August of 2020, I wrote that Kyle Dubas is the reason for the Toronto Maple Leafs consistently coming up short. Two full seasons later, I have been proven right again. In 2021 it was to the lowly Montreal Canadiens, which is arguably the worst playoff defeat since the last time the Leafs won a series (That I wasn’t even old enough to remember!). Toronto had a 3-1 lead and lost to the goddamn Canadiens. I said I was more terrified than anything when Toronto went up 3-1, and that fear was justified. Then Toronto went up against the juggernaut Tampa Bay Lightening in this most recent postseason and gave them everything they had. After they lost game six, it became clear the series was gone. They gave Tampa the biggest fit of the postseason so far, and got some great respect in the handshake life for whatever that’s worth.
The Leafs are paying a ridiculous amount of money to four players, which takes up nearly half of their salary cap and Jack Campbell’s future with the team is uncertain because of that. Where Jason Spezza might be able to provide value is in the player morale and player mentality areas. Spezza has been around for a long time in the league, he knows and has relationships with players in the Leafs’ locker room and probably with other players from his recent time with Dallas. He can help Dubas make some decisions on who to retain, who to trade, how it will affect the locker room in terms of player morale. What Spezza could also provide is an insight into how certain players work. Spezza could help Dubas find some grinders, low-salary guys who are scrappy and hungry to get better and keep playing. The Leafs need some scrappy and hungry thrid and fourth liners, Spezza can help identify them.
Jason Spezza provides a unique perspective and voice in the Leafs’ front office. It would do Kyle Dubas some good to listen to his new assistant’s insight.
