The resumption of the NHL regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs is inching closer after the NHL announced that Phase 2 of the Return to Play plan would begin on Monday. There are still a few hurdles before players will be able to assemble for an abbreviated training camp and move forward towards the postseason in late July-early August.
Today we complete the player report cards with a look at the Leafs oldest forward:
Jason Spezza
The 36-year-old former All-Star signed with Toronto last July to fill the leadership gap left by the departure of Patrick Marleau and with the expectation of being the club’s fourth-line center, but starting at training camp Spezza was inexplicably used as a pawn by head coach Mike Babcock to illustrate his control over the roster. That treatment of a respected veteran was a contributing factor in Babcock’s demise in late November.
"We went through a start of the season where I was in and out of the lineup, I was just trying to establish myself and find a role with the team. As the year progressed, my role became a little more defined and then I was able to focus on just playing and being a good positive influence on the games every night and less so about being in the lineup and I think that helped me just kind of understand what my role was and what was expected of me." Spezza said in April. "I got more and more comfortable with the systems and my place on the team and knowing that different nights I was gonna move around in the lineup and it was fun (and) a great challenge."
The veteran center was scratched on opening night against Ottawa and 10 times in 23 games under Babcock, but was only scratched twice in 47 games under Sheldon Keefe. Spezza played wing and center on the third and fourth line, as well as on the Leafs second power play and scored 25 points (9 goals, 16 assists in 58 games averaging just under 11 minutes of ice time per night.
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Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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