Maple Leafs reward veteran Spezza with another shot at winning a Stanley Cup
37-year-old returns with another 1-year deal at league minimum
The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed centre Jason Spezza to a one-year, $700,000 US contract extension.
It marks the second straight one-year deal at the NHL minimum with the Leafs for the 37-year-old Toronto native.
"I'm in it for as long as I can be so I can win a Stanley Cup," Spezza said after the Leafs were eliminated by the Columbus Blue Jackets in August. "It's something that I dreamt of as a kid. I would love nothing more than to do it here in Toronto... it would be pretty special."
Spezza had nine goals and 25 points in 58 regular-season games with Toronto last season. He has 940 points (341 goals, 599 assists) in 1,123 career regular-season games and 70 points (25 goals, 45 assists) in 85 career playoff games with the Ottawa Senators, Dallas Stars and Leafs.
"He's been excellent with our young players, great experience, works his butt off every single day in the [practice] facility," Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said on a video conference call with reporters Monday. "[He's] been an outstanding addition for us."
Spezza was picked second overall by the Senators in the 2001 draft. He has played for Canada four times at the world championship, three times at the world junior championship and once at the Spengler Cup.
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