Former Maple Leafs Veteran Reportedly Rejects Toronto GM Offer – Hockey Writers –

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

On Friday’s episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Elliotte Friedman made an interesting comment about the former manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, a team that is reportedly interested in bringing him back. Jason Spezza—who worked in the Leafs’ front office as a special assistant to the GM but resigned in May 2023 to join the Pittsburgh Penguins in the same role after the departure of Kyle Dubas—is a strong candidate as the organization seeks to fill its GM or President of Hockey Operations role.

During the podcast, Friedman wondered why Spezza’s name wasn’t up there more. Why was he not discussed among several names connected by openings?

Spezza Is Not Interested in a Major Role

Friedman noted, “One of the guys I’ve been wondering why I haven’t heard their name is Jason Spezza. Like, I think Jason Spezza is going to be a great candidate. I think he’s going to be a great GM one day. He loves hockey, and right now he’s putting in the work.”

Toronto may not have offered him a job, but it sounds like they gave him a chance to interview and become a legitimate candidate.

He said no.

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

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

Spezza believes he won’t be ready yet. “I definitely have ambitions, but I’m not in a rush,” said Spezza in a recent interview.

“It looks like he has told other teams that he has a lot to learn and when he looks to be a manager he wants to make sure he feels right. And that time is not now.”

Perhaps A Wise Decision With Spezza

It would be one thing if Spezza jumped into the GM role early enough to find another franchise. In the pressure cooker that is the Toronto market, it’s a lot to ask of a starting GM to feel that he doesn’t have all the tools to get the job done.

This position, whoever gets it, will be heavily scrutinized, and every decision will be debated ad nauseum. If Spezza feels like he’s not ready, he’ll be getting a good chance on purpose, but it may not always be there. Arguably there is no top position in the NHL, but that doesn’t mean it’s everyone’s job. If he takes over and it doesn’t go well, that’s the kind of black mark on his CV that Spezza doesn’t need.

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