Jason Spezza facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jason Spezza
Spezza with the Toronto Maple Leafs in January 2020
Born	(1983-06-13) June 13, 1983 (age 42) Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Right
Played for	Ottawa Senators Rapperswil-Jona Lakers Dallas Stars Toronto Maple Leafs
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	2nd overall, 2001 Ottawa Senators
Playing career	2002–2022

Jason Spezza (born June 13, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a centre for 19 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 2002 to 2022. After retiring, Spezza became an assistant general manager for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Spezza started his major junior career at just 15 years old in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The Ottawa Senators picked him second overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He later became the captain of the Senators. During the NHL lockout in 2004–05, he played in the American Hockey League (AHL). He won the Les Cunningham Award as the league's most valuable player (MVP) with the Binghamton Senators. In the 2005–06 season, Spezza set a record for the Ottawa Senators with 71 assists. He also reached 90 points in a season twice in his NHL career. Spezza also played for the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs.

On the international stage, Spezza played for Canada. He competed in three World Junior Championships and two World Championships. When he first played in the World Juniors in 2000, he was only 16. He was one of only three 16-year-olds to ever make the team, joining hockey legends Wayne Gretzky and Eric Lindros.

Early life and beginnings

Jason Spezza was born on June 13, 1983, in Mississauga, Ontario. His parents, Rino and Donna Spezza, are from Italy. He also has twin siblings, Michelle and Matthew. Growing up near Toronto, he cheered for the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, his favorite player was Mario Lemieux. Spezza went to St. Michael's College School.

When he was just one year old, Spezza won a baby contest. This led to him starting a modelling career as a child. He became the poster boy for "Baby," a Broadway musical in Toronto. At age five, he was in a Minute Maid commercial. Two years later, he modeled clothes for stores like Woolco and Kmart.

Playing career highlights

Junior hockey journey

Spezza played for the Toronto Marlboros in 1997. He scored 114 points in 54 games. At 15, he began his major junior career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He played for the Brampton Battalion in 1998–99. He scored 71 points in 67 games as an underage player. He also became the youngest player to play in an OHL All-Star game at 15.

After one season, he was drafted by the Mississauga IceDogs in 1999–2000. He scored 61 points in 52 games. He then asked for a trade and moved to the Windsor Spitfires in 2000–01. That season, Spezza had his best OHL year with 116 points in 66 games.

Spezza was named the Top CHL Prospect before the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. The Ottawa Senators drafted him second overall. The New York Islanders originally had this pick but traded it to Ottawa. Spezza decided not to attend the Canadian junior team's summer camp. He wanted to focus on preparing for his first NHL camp.

After one more OHL season, Spezza started his professional career. He signed his first professional contract with the Senators on September 5, 2001.

Professional career in the NHL

Ottawa Senators (2002–2014)

Spezza at the 2003 AHL All-Star Game. Spezza spent most of the 2002–03 season in the AHL.

After his OHL career, Spezza joined the Grand Rapids Griffins, an AHL team, for the 2002 Calder Cup playoffs. He played three games and scored one goal. He made his NHL debut with Ottawa in 2002–03. He played 33 games and got 21 points. His first NHL goal was on October 29, 2002. He spent most of that season in the AHL with the Binghamton Senators. He was often called up to the NHL when Ottawa players were injured. He also played in three Stanley Cup playoff games with Ottawa. The Senators reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2003. They lost to the New Jersey Devils, who went on to win the Stanley Cup.

Spezza played his first full NHL season in 2003–04. He scored 22 goals and 55 points in 78 games. Due to the NHL lockout, Spezza returned to the AHL in 2004–05. He scored 117 points with Binghamton, leading the league. He also won the John B. Sollenberger Trophy as the top scorer and the Les Cunningham Award as league MVP.

When NHL play started again in 2005–06, Spezza returned to Ottawa. He played on the first line with Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson. This line became known as the "CASH" line or "Pizza" line. Alfredsson and Heatley both scored 103 points. Spezza had 90 points, even though he missed games due to injury. His 71 assists set a new team record. In the 2006 playoffs, the Senators won the first round but lost in the second. Spezza had 14 points in 10 playoff games.

In 2006, Spezza had back surgery. The next season, he continued to play well with Heatley and Alfredsson. He scored a career-high 34 goals and 87 points in 67 games. On May 19, 2007, the Senators beat the Buffalo Sabres to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. They lost to the Anaheim Ducks in five games. Spezza finished the 2007 playoffs with a team-record 22 points.

Spezza with the Ottawa Senators at the beginning of the 2007–08 season.

Spezza signed a new seven-year contract with the Senators on November 2, 2007. On February 9, 2008, he scored his first NHL hat-trick against the Montreal Canadiens. He had a career-high six points in that game. He finished the 2007–08 season with 34 goals and 92 points. However, the Senators lost in the first round of the playoffs.

The 2008–09 season was tough for Spezza and the Senators. He played all 82 games for the first time but his points went down to 73. The team missed the playoffs for the first time in many years.

In the 2009–10 season, Spezza missed 22 games due to injury. Still, he scored 23 goals and 34 assists for 57 points. In the 2010 playoffs, the Senators lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Spezza faced some criticism from fans during this series. There was talk that he might be traded, but he stayed with Ottawa.

On December 26, 2010, Spezza was injured in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He had a shoulder injury and missed several weeks.

At the end of the 2010–11 season, Spezza became an interim alternate captain for Ottawa. In 2011–12, he was named a permanent alternate captain. He stayed healthy and finished fourth in league scoring. He was considered for the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP.

Spezza played with the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of the Swiss NLA during the 2012–13 NHL lockout.

Spezza played for the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers in Switzerland during the 2012–13 NHL lockout. He returned to the Senators when the lockout ended. He played five games before a back injury sidelined him. He needed surgery for a herniated disc. Spezza missed the rest of the regular season and the first round of the 2013 playoffs. He returned on May 19, 2013, for a playoff game against Pittsburgh.

On September 14, 2013, Spezza became the eighth captain in Senators' history. He took over from his long-time teammate Daniel Alfredsson. After his first season as captain in 2013–14, Spezza asked to be traded from the Senators. He turned down a trade to the Nashville Predators because of his contract.

Dallas Stars (2014–2019)

Spezza with the Dallas Stars in October 2014

On July 1, 2014, Spezza was traded to the Dallas Stars. He signed a new four-year contract with Dallas on November 21. In his first season with the Stars, he scored 17 goals and 45 assists for 62 points in 82 games. The Stars missed the playoffs that year.

His scoring improved in the next season. He scored 33 goals and 30 assists for 63 points in 75 games. The Stars made the 2016 playoffs as the top team in the Western Conference. Spezza and the Stars won their first round series but lost in the second round.

In 2016-17, Spezza had 15 goals and 35 assists for 50 points in 68 games. The Stars struggled with injuries and missed the playoffs. In 2017-18, Spezza played 78 games with 8 goals and 18 assists. The Stars improved but still missed the playoffs by a small margin.

On October 30, 2018, Spezza played in his 1,000th career NHL game. He finished the 2018-19 NHL season with 8 goals and 19 assists for 27 points in 76 games. The Stars made the playoffs again. In the 2019 playoffs, he played 11 games, scoring 3 goals and 2 assists. The Stars won their first round series but lost in the second round.

Toronto Maple Leafs (2019–2022)

On July 1, 2019, Spezza signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was the team he supported as a child. He said it would be "pretty special" to wear a Leafs jersey. Spezza was a healthy scratch for the first game of the season, which was against his old team, the Ottawa Senators. He made his debut in the next game on October 5.

On October 5, 2020, Spezza signed another one-year contract with the Maple Leafs. On January 17, 2021, the Maple Leafs placed Spezza on waivers. This was done for salary cap reasons. Spezza's agent said he would retire if another team claimed him. He was not claimed and stayed with the Maple Leafs. On February 4, he scored his eighth and final career hat trick against the Vancouver Canucks.

On June 16, 2021, Spezza signed another one-year contract with the Maple Leafs. He took a lower salary to help the team. Spezza continued to play well in a depth role. On December 8, he was suspended for six games for a hit to the head of a Winnipeg Jets player. Spezza had a reputation as a clean player and had never been suspended before. He appealed the decision, and the suspension was reduced to four games.

After the Maple Leafs were eliminated from the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs in the first round, Spezza announced his retirement. He played 19 seasons in the NHL. Spezza retired with 995 career NHL points, the most of any player who never reached 1,000 points. The Maple Leafs offered him a new job as special assistant to the general manager, which he accepted. He said he was "very grateful" for the chance to stay in the game he loves.

International play

Spezza at the 2008 World Championships
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold	2015 Czech Republic
Silver	2009 Switzerland
Silver	2008 Canada
World Junior Championships
Silver	2002 Czech Republic
Bronze	2001 Russia
Bronze	2000 Sweden
Spengler Cup
Gold	2012 Davos

As a junior player, Spezza played for Canada's national junior team for three years in a row. He first played at the 2000 World Junior Championships. He was only the third 16-year-old to make the team, after Wayne Gretzky and Eric Lindros. Spezza helped Canada win a bronze medal. He returned in 2001 for another bronze medal. In his third and final World Junior appearance in 2002, Canada reached the gold medal game but lost to Russia, earning a silver medal.

Spezza was a reserve player for Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics but did not play. He made his debut for the men's team at the 2008 World Championships. He won a silver medal, losing to Russia in the final. The next year, Spezza played for Canada again at the 2009 World Championships. He won another silver medal, again losing to Russia. Spezza was tied for the most goals scored in that tournament with seven.

Even though he played well in previous World Championships, Spezza was not initially on Canada's team for the 2010 Winter Olympics. However, he was later invited to join the team.

During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Spezza played for Canada at the 2012 Spengler Cup in Switzerland. He helped Canada win its first Spengler Cup title since 2007.

At the 2015 World Championships, Canada won the gold medal with a perfect record. Spezza was named the best forward and was part of the all-star team. He was also the top scorer in the tournament.

Executive career

For the 2022–23 Toronto Maple Leafs season, Spezza was hired as a special assistant to the general manager, Kyle Dubas. Spezza left this job on May 19, 2023, after the Maple Leafs decided to remove Dubas as general manager.

Soon after, Dubas became the president of hockey operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins. On June 14, 2023, Spezza joined the Penguins as an assistant general manager.

Off the ice and personal life

Community programs

Spezza was involved in many activities outside of hockey. One popular program was "Spelling with Spezza." Students who won received a poster of Spezza and tickets to an Ottawa Senators game. This program helped show how important spelling is. Spezza also supported Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Personal life

Spezza married his girlfriend, Jennifer Snell, in Ottawa on July 25, 2009. Many of his teammates and friends attended the wedding.

Jason and Jennifer have four daughters. While he played for the Senators, Spezza and his family lived in Ottawa. They sold their home when he was traded to Dallas.

Endorsements

Spezza was featured on the cover of the NHL 2K8 video game. This game was available on PlayStation and Xbox consoles.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Bold indicates led league

International

Awards and honours