Jason Spezza retires, joins Toronto Maple Leafs front office
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Sunday that Jason Spezza is retiring from playing in the NHL, and will be joining the Leafs in a front office role going forward.
“I love hockey. Since the age of three, I’ve been lucky enough to live out my dream and do what I love for so many years,” said Spezza in a statement. “I eat, sleep, dream hockey and it’s always been there for me.”
Spezza spent 19 seasons in the NHL, playing 1,248 games, and accumulating 363 goals, 632 assists, and 995 points. He retires tied for 96th all-time in games played, 80th in assists, and 94th in points. He spent 11 of those seasons with the Ottawa Senators, with whom he was also captain for a season, five with the Dallas Stars, and the past three seasons with the Leafs.
Spezza also had an illustrious international career, representing Canada four times at the IIHF World Championship, three times at the IIHF World Junior Championship, and once at the Spengler Cup. He accumulated one gold medal, three silvers, and two bronzes, as well as a Spengler Cup.
With retirement, Spezza now transitions into a front office role with the Leafs as a Special Assistant to the GM.
“Looking forward, I’m very grateful to the Leafs for the amazing opportunity to transition into this new role,” said Spezza. “It enables me to continue to follow my passion; learn and live new experiences within the game I love.”
“It is difficult to describe just how much of a lasting and positive impact that Jason Spezza made in his three seasons with the Maple Leafs,” said Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas in a team statement. “Jason’s passion for the game of hockey, his desire to continuously push himself and his teammates to improve, as well as his capacity to make strong connections with all members of the organization, have been invaluable. Though today marks the end of his tenure with us as a player, it is a pleasure to have him join our front office to impart all that he has to offer.”
It’s unclear as to what the role pertains, but it appears that Spezza’s love of the game means he doesn’t want to walk away from the game completely.