“Something I’ll always remember” – Maple Leafs’ Jason Spezza announces retirement after 19 NHL seasons

“Something I’ll always remember” – Maple Leafs’ Jason Spezza announces retirement after 19 NHL seasons

Jason Spezza

Veteran Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Spezza on Sunday announced his retirement after a stellar 19-season career in the National Hockey League (NHL). The 38-year-old is now moving into the Maple Leafs’ front office as a special assistant to GM Kyle Dubas.

Taken second overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2001 draft, Spezza spent his first 11 seasons with the Senators before shifting base to the Dallas Stars in 2014 and Toronto in 2019. Talking about his overall career records, the two-time NHL All-Star (2008, 2012) finished with 995 points (363 goals and 632 assists) in 1,248 regular-season NHL games.

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“Hockey has been my life’s work and to be able to come home to Toronto and bookend my playing career where it started was incredible,” Spezza said in a statement, as quoted by ESPN.com. “To the fans — in Ottawa, Dallas, Toronto and across the league — your impact on the game is immeasurable. I’ll never be able to replicate that feeling of stepping onto the ice to the roar of the crowd, but it is something I’ll always remember. Thank you.”

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“Spezza’s passion for hockey has been invaluable”

Jason Spezza
Jason Spezza

The Ontario native Spezza currently ranks in the top 100 on the NHL’s career list for games played (tied for 96th), assists (80th) and points (94th). Coming to this season, he had 12 goals and 13 assists in 71 games, adding an assist in five playoff games.

“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,” Dubas said. “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.”

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