Kyle Dubas reveals why Jason Spezza waited until Sunday to announce his retirement
The last 24 hours for Leafs Nation has been dominated by Jason Spezza, and for good reason. The 19-year NHL veteran announced his retirement from pro hockey and his imminent transition into a new front office role with the Leafs on Sunday.
On Sunday afternoon, Leafs GM Kyle Dubas spoke with the media about Spezza at length, and while it was exactly what you might have expected, one detail from the media session really stood out above all the others.
Dubas opened his media availability by stating that the decision had already been made that Spezza would retire and become a Special Assistant to Dubas next season, but that the announcement wasn't made because Spezza didn't feel it would be right to announce something that would have been headline hockey news on a day where playoff hockey was being played.
Can you believe that? Spezza's playing career was ending, and as emotional as he must have been about the decision, he thought of others first and didn't want to distract anyone from playoff hockey. What a guy...
Previously on MapleLeafsDaily
|
1 hour ago | By Ryan Smitheram Report Surfaces Questioning the Longevity of Nick Robertson's Tenure with Leafs, Even After New Deal |
|
4 hours ago | By Dean Chaudhry Ben Danford Heaps Praise on Fellow Maple Leafs Prospect After Impressive Summer Showcase |
|
5 hours ago | By Nick Matthews Ex-Leafs Star Nazem Kadri Responds After Being Snubbed By Hockey Canada for Olympic Consideration |
|
9 hours ago | By Ryan Smitheram Maple Leafs and Nick Robertson Successfully Avoid Arbitration With Solid New Deal |
|
10 hours ago | By Mike Armenti The Most Likely Outcome in the Maple Leafs, Nick Robertson Saga After Abitration Filings Exchanged |
|
11 hours ago | By Mike Armenti Terrifying Scene Shows Kraken Forward and Mascot Nearly Mauled by Bear While Filming in Alaska |
|
12 hours ago | By Ryan Smitheram Leafs' Auston Matthews Puts Injury Issues Behind Him, Spotted Back on the Ice With Another NHL Star |
|
Aug 1 | By Nick Matthews Maple Leafs Alumni Shares Terrifying Story of Having Skull Fractured by Al MacInnis |