NHL free agency 2019: Toronto Maple Leafs will sign Jason Spezza
According to Bob McKenzie, veteran center Jason Spezza will sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs once NHL free agency starts. It will be a one-year deal worth about $700,000.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are back to the drawing board after another first-round loss to the Boston Bruins. They’re looking to add some cheap depth, as Mitch Marner’s deal will likely be an expensive one. After clearing some cap space, it looks like the Leafs will take a shot on a former rival. Bob McKenzie is reporting Toronto will sign Jason Spezza to a one-year deal.
As expected, it won’t be an expensive deal at all. In fact, McKenzie says it will be right around $700,000 per year or maybe just a bit higher. Spezza might be old, but he could be a worthwhile gamble for the Leafs. He could even wind up being a bargain.
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Spezza isn’t as good as he once was, but he’s still a decent player. Last season, he had eight goals and 19 assists for 27 points. That’s a far cry from the days you could pencil in Spezza for 50 points and 20 goals.
But in a third-line or fourth-line role, Spezza could be a valuable piece. He’ll also help the Leafs power play, as he’s still pretty productive there. 12 of his 27 points last season came on the man advantage.
It’s going to be odd seeing Spezza, a long-time Ottawa Senators forward, play for the Leafs. He should be able to help them out, though. However, general manager Kyle Dubas should keep an eye on how head coach Mike Babcock uses him.
Spezza used to be really good, but now he isn’t. Babcock has a history of trusting veterans like him a bit too much. But if Dubas can reign him in, Spezza has enough left in the tank to be a positive contributor.
I’d expect Spezza to be more in a fourth-line role. He could be Tyler Ennis’s replacement. Ennis gave the Leafs some quality offense from the fourth line and even chipped in on the power play for the Leafs. Spezza could fill that role.
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Overall, this is a pretty darn good signing. It has the potential to be a bargain. This is the kind of low-risk, high-reward deal the Leafs should be taking right now. Expect to see them do this on more players, especially defensemen.