Former Maple Leafs Veteran Reportedly Declines Toronto GM Offer – The Hockey Writers –

In Toronto, speculation continues to swirl around the candidates the team is considering for its vacant general manager role.

In Friday’s episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Elliotte Friedman made an interesting comment about a former Toronto Maple Leafs executive the team is reportedly interested in bringing back. Jason Spezza—who served in the Leafs’ front office as a special assistant to the GM but resigned in May 2023 to join the Pittsburgh Penguins in a similar role following Kyle Dubas’ departure—is a solid candidate as the organization searches to fill its GM or President of Hockey Operations role.

During the podcast, Friedman pondered why Spezza’s name wasn’t out there more. Why wasn’t he being discussed among the several names linked to the openings?

Spezza Not Interested In a Bigger Role

Friedman noted, “One of the people I’ve been wondering why their name I have not heard is Jason Spezza. Like, I think Jason Spezza would be a great candidate. I think someday he will turn out to be a very good GM. He loves hockey, and right now he’s putting in the work.”

Toronto might not have offered him the job, but it sounds like they offered him an opportunity to interview for it and become a legitimate candidate.

He said no.

Some might believe that Spezza is loyal to Dubas. That’s probably true. At the same time, it sounds like he doesn’t feel he’s ready to take on a bigger role with the Toronto Maple Leafs, or any team for that matter.

“And I’ve been asking, why is Jason Spezza not part of your search?” Friedman added. “And what I found out is that I believe a couple of teams in this process, not just the Maple Leafs, have gauged his interests and he has indicated that this is not his time. He has politely declined.”

Spezza believes he wouldn’t be ready yet. “I definitely have aspirations, but I’m in zero rush,” Spezza said in an interview recently.

“Apparently, he has told other teams that he still has more to learn and when he does look at becoming a manager, he wants to make sure he feels he’s ready. And that time is not now.”

Probably a Wise Decision By Spezza

It would be one thing if Spezza jumped into a GM role a bit early for another franchise. In the pressure cooker that is the Toronto market, it’s a lot to ask of a first-time GM who feels he’s not got all the tools yet to do the job.

This position, whoever gets it, will be heavily scrutinized, and every decision will be debated ad nauseam. If Spezza feels he’s not ready, he’d knowingly be walking into a great opportunity, but one that likely wouldn’t last. There arguably isn’t a more prominent executive position in the NHL, but that doesn’t mean it’s the job for everyone. If he takes the role and it doesn’t go well, that’s the kind of black mark on his resume that Spezza doesn’t need.

The former Maple Leafs veteran is only 42 years old. By NHL GM standards, that’s young. He’s got plenty of time and, if Friedman is correct in his assessment of how Spezza is viewed around the league, other doors will open.