Jason Spezza has signed a new contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Absolute steal

****ing love this for the Leafs was a huge Spezza fan growing up, know he's lost a step but glad to see him in a leafs jersey

PP specialist and hometown boy on a discount? YES PLEASE!

great value

Kadris gone, one more round, Kadris gone ?

But if you trade Kadri, who becomes your 3rd C next year>? Nylander. No Center depth on the Marlies or the Leafs gonna create an UFA carousel each year.

Kadri will bring back a 4th-5th Dman making under 4 million as a trade return. Nothing special.

Only if Marleau wasn't determine to go home; I'd rather him back to mentor still.

Petan will have to find a new jersey #, 19 goes to Spezza.

Yeah, well, ok, if Kardi is gone.... TOR will go from TOP HEAVY to a BOTTOM LIGHT category.

Steal of a deal for a good vet

Why the hell did this guy take such a pay cut?? He's easily worth 3-4M in a 3C role.

He is probably trying to get on a team that has a good Cup chance next year.

Combined with the Nick Shore signing, this helps shore up organization depth down the middle. No, it does not mean Nazem Kadri will be trades. Spezza could fill a 3C role, at best, maybe for a year, two at best. But he’s certainly not the player he once was. He will likely be on the 2PP unit and could be playing the wing as much as up the middle for much of the year as there’s a lot of good players fighting for the 4C role in Spezza, Petan, Gauthier, and Shore. But remember beyond that it’s just Adam Brooks down on the farm as the top prospect and his ceiling isn’t much above a 4C spot in the NHL at best, despite taking strides forward in his 2nd pro year.

What you may see is Spezza playing on Kadri’s wing with a faster forechecker a la Trevor Moore. And the 4th line is comprised of Engvall and either another AHL call-up (Bracco or Marchment would be most likely) the also just-signed Agostino on the wings with 2 of Petan, Shore, and Gauthier rotating in as the 12th/13th forwards. Whomever loses that camp battle goes on waivers and, if they clear (which they likely will), will take on a 2C role with the Marlies (with Adam Brooks stepping into the 1C role vacated by Chris Mueller).

So to recap:
3rd Line: Moore - Kadri - Spezza
4th Line: Engvall - Petan/Gauthier/Shore - Bracco/Marchment/Agostino

1C AHL: Brooks
2C AHL: one of Petan/Gauthier/Shore

Great no risk signing. 4th line ctr- who can easily slide to the 3rd in a pinch, and help out on special teams.
You would think Ottawa and other teams wouldve offered him something in the 1.5 mil range....but he gets a good chance to play on a cup contender, which Ottawa is nowhere near.

u signed Spezza to help Matthews be number 1 centre, but that's why ure paying Talvares 11 pĺus.

Love this signing!
Good to see a hometown guy come play for the team.

Play one game and retire?

Happy we got back Barrie for Kadri?

I think it's a good return and Kerfoot addition is really intriguing. Is he 3C? Spezza 4?

Definitely

Are you saying that's gonna be the Leafs???

LMAO ... They're paying Tavares $11,000,000 to put up 47 goals and 90 points ... You think he's gonna drop off a cliff at 28 ???

He's 4 years younger than Crosby and 2 years younger than Patty Kane ... and they're still putting up 100+ point seasons ....

I like this move I remember when he was a top tier type player... Talk about a fall from grace to sign for league minimum hoping for a shot at Cup with no bonuses etc ... Maple Leafs seem to be pushing hard to try to win this year... Which considering they nearly beat Boston they must figure they should have been in the SCF...

A fantastic example of the perfect depth signing.