Jason Spezza is no stranger to making adjustments.
During his final season in the NHL, the former All-Star forward saw his role continue to diminish. But he never complained. He handled his limited fourth-line role with class.
Just two weeks after playing in his final NHL game, Spezza simultaneously announced his retirement and joined the Toronto Maple Leafs front office as a 'Special Assistant to Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas'.
"It enables me to continue to follow my passion; learn and live new experiences within the game I love," Spezza said in a statement following the decision.
With Dubas' future with the team still in question following his end-of-season news conference on Monday, there are many different directions that the future of the team's management could take. But however it shakes out, Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) would be wise to have Spezza be a part of it.
This season, Spezza has spent every day absorbing many different roles. Known by his peers as a hockey nerd, he's aware of just about every player of the game at every level. When he wasn't at the World Juniors evaluating talent, he was in the trenches with Dubas and the rest of the management team, attending games both home and road and providing valuable insight. Not just from someone who 'played the game' but someone who knows the group.
Is Spezza ready to become the GM?
It may be too soon, but he's definitely on the right track. There are other things that come with the gig like contract negotiations with agents that didn't really fall under his purview in this past season. One year away from playing the game, Spezza may not have enough on-the-job experience to make the jump immediately, but a promotion could be in line.
Assistant GM is more likely
Moving from a special assistant to the GM to assistant GM means more than it did when Dright Schrute received that promotion in the NBC hit series 'The Office'. Current Leafs Assistant GM Brendan Pridham moved into his current role after serving as an Assistant to the GM for four seasons.
Spezza's eye for talent and established relationships with players throughout Toronto's system are valuable and something the Leafs will want to keep, even if they decide to blow it up. It's the same player who spearheaded efforts to create a fund to help the club's AHL team collect some extra money due to pandemic losses.
“He kind of brought it to the forefront from the leadership standpoint, and the leadership group thought it was really important," Maple Leafs captain John Tavares said of Spezza. "I think we know — society as a whole, but certainly in our game — how tough a year it is for so many. So, within the organization, we wanted to make sure we try to take care of our own."
During his time as a Maple Leafs player, Head coach Sheldon Keefe leaned on Spezza to get a feel for his group before making any decisions on the ice. Dubas has done the same from a managerial level.
If management is about to change, it'd be wise for Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan or the board at MLSE to lean on Spezza to get the best feel for how to move forward.
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