Transcript: Jason Spezza Media Call - April 21, 2020
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Q (Mike Zeisberger, NHL.com): Obviously we don't know where this season is going. You've already cited that you'd like to play another year. How cool would it be to be back in Toronto if things were to work out that way?
JASON SPEZZA: For sure, Mike. It's obviously not the focus right now by any means but I definitely feel like I've got game left and there's nowhere else I'd rather be than play another year here in Toronto, so I do hope it works out but at this point it's not the focus. I would love to be back; I feel like we were building things with this club and I want love to be a part of it.
Q (Paul Hendrick, Leafs Nation Network): Was there an aspect of this season from September on through early March that may have revitalized your game, your approach to it? Basically what did you enjoy about your time with the Leafs this season?
JASON SPEZZA: For me, we went through a start of the season where I was in and out of the lineup and I was just trying to establish myself and find a role within the team. I think 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 and out of the lineup and I think that helped me just kind of understand what my role was and what was expected of me. Definitely as the year progressed, I got more and more comfortable with the systems and my place on the team and knowing that different nights I was going to move around the lineup, and it was fun. It was a great challenge, getting myself prepared every night and being part of an exciting team.
Q (Paul Hendrick, Leafs Nation Network): What is life like around the Spezza household with the young family you have and what's it been like the past five weeks?
JASON SPEZZA: It was a challenge to establish a routine early on. We wanted to make sure that everybody was safe around us and we created some guidelines for the kids. Now we're in the thick of home schooling and getting them involved that way. It's been a lot of quality time, getting to play with them in the afternoon once they're done their schoolwork. We really lean on the family to stay busy and stay occupied and I'm lucky that I have so many kids, it creates an exciting atmosphere around the house. There's no dull moments around here.
Q (Kevin McGran, Toronto Star): I've got a question about what fitness levels will look like when this game resumes? You came out of the 12/13 lockout, what were your memories of how quickly people could get back into game shape and how much time do you think guys will need to get back into shape?
JASON SPEZZA: I think the way I've approached it is we should be in better physical shape in terms of off-ice strength. I know we've talked about it amongst our group, how you try to almost approach it like summer training at this point where you're just worried about building strength. I think off the ice we should be in better shape. The challenge with this is there's nobody on the ice and during the lockout there were opportunities for guys to skate at local rinks and stuff so the biggest challenge will be getting your game up to speed and I think that will take a few weeks of skating. I think the guys that are involved in the committees to help resume to play and the League are all pretty aware that nobody's on the ice right now and there will have to be a bit of a run-up period. The reality is it's our job to keep ourselves fit and if that period isn't as long as what's maybe ideal, it's our job to be ready to play.
Q (Kevin McGran, Toronto Star): Is there an advantage for shooters over goalies or goalies over shooters? Offense over defence? Which way do you think it might go?
JASON SPEZZA: I don't really know, that's a good question. I think that youth definitely helps probably. It definitely helps to have a team with younger guys who can bounce back - that sets us up well for success. But the older guys, we know how to work too and that kind of helps too. Older guys around the League that have been able to survive, and you know how to motivate yourself so it will be interesting to see how it plays out. I do think guys will need time to kind of get their bearings back on the ice, but I think skill guys and skill players tend to get things back quicker.
Q (Kevin McGran, Toronto Star): How much contact do you have with Leaf trainers and Leaf coaches and your own personal trainers to stay in touch with either your game or your fitness?
JASON SPEZZA: We have a great support system here with the Leafs. We have Zoom calls, we've had individual calls to trainers, you build trust in your own personal strength coaches and you kind of get everybody to work together to figure out the best plan for you off the ice. Sheldon, I think, has used this time really well to get in touch with guys, identify some areas they want guys to work on when we do get back and just giving everybody a chance to look back on the season and look back at where you're at as a player without the disappointment of a playoff loss. Usually when we're doing this it's marred by the fact that you're lost, and you need to figure out what to do different. Nobody has really had a chance to prove what type of team they are in a playoff format, so I think now it's about self-evaluation and figuring out what the next steps are when we do get back to playing.
Q (Josh Clipperton, The Canadian Press): We talked to Zach Hyman last week and he talked about you and the impact you've had on the locker room, but he also talked about how you've been through a lot this year. Can you take us through how tough those first few weeks and months were for yourself?
JASON SPEZZA: It was obviously not the start I envisioned. I just tried to have the mentality that I was just going to stay in the fight. Hockey is a game where there's injuries, there's changes. Things happen and your role can shift in a day. For me it was just coming to the rink, figuring out what I had to work on that day. If it was a game day I was playing in, get ready for the game. If it was a day that I wasn't, figure out what I can do to stay sharp or to improve on how I felt on the ice. I didn't really give myself much of an option, I didn't want to feel sorry for myself or think about that because that's basically the end. I was just trying to stay in the fight and give myself an opportunity to play well when I did get in.
Q (Josh Clipperton, The Canadian Press): You were a very high draft pick when you got taken and it looks like this year the draft is going to be online or remote, it's going to be a scaled back version in some way. Do you have sympathy for the guys that won't get the same draft experience you did and what was that day like? What do you remember about that day?
JASON SPEZZA: I think the draft now has maybe changed a little bit. It's probably bigger profile than it was back when I got drafted. It's a great time for your family, I find, the draft. As a player you're always kind of looking towards the next thing. Especially as a young player, you're hungry. I remember getting drafted and it was just like, 'Okay when is the rookie camp?' and 'When is training camp?' You're just continually moving forward. For your family, it's a good time to reflect and be proud of the accomplishment. For the families, they maybe don't get to celebrate it quite the same way. The draft is just a small thing on a long list of things that happen to you in your hockey career and I think guys will appreciate the fact that what's going on in the world takes more of a precedence.
Q (Terry Koshan, Toronto Sun): Have you been able to sit back and think about the season and the impression guys like Mitch [Marner] and Auston [Matthews] made on you in your first close-up look at them, if you will.
JASON SPEZZA: Yeah, for sure. I didn't know Mitch or Auston at all coming into this year and I've just been really impressed. With Mitch, it's the excitement, the enthusiasm, the energy he brings every day. He's got an infectious personality, the guys love being around him. He's kind of like an Energizer Bunny. He's going around the rink and yapping at guys, always got a good demeanour. And then [Matthews], I've really taken to Matts in just the sense that he loves the game and he works really hard at it. I think people don't know how dedicated he is and how much effort he puts into his game and how much thinking. I can relate to him that way because that's how I was as a young player. You can tell he's got that fire and I want to help him be the best version of himself he can be. Those are exciting guys to have in the locker room with you because there's no limit to what we can be as a team when you have high-end guys like that.
Q (Terry Koshan, Toronto Sun): How much attention are you paying to the news and the various ideas that are being thrown around for the NHL and other sports once they eventually return?
JASON SPEZZA: I've kept pretty close tabs on things. It's kind of the nature of how I operate is I like to grab a full understanding of what's going on. I've spent a few hours a day just doing some reading and listening to what other leagues are thinking of doing and talking to people and being on PA calls. I'm just trying to keep myself informed and it also keeps you kind of sharp and hungry. We all know that there's bigger things at play right now and the health of everybody is first and foremost. At some point we will get a chance to come back and play and when we do it'll be exciting. I think it is important to be aware of some of the things that are being talked about.
Q (Chris Johnston, Sportsnet): In those calls you've been on or what you've been reading, how optimistic are you that we'll find a way to finish the season?
JASON SPEZZA: I'm an eternal optimist so I'm hoping there's going to be a chance to play. I'm not sure when it's going to be, but I'm optimistic that we're going to get a chance to finish the season. I think that's the approach that I want to have because if we're able to play, then I've prepared myself and stayed in shape, and if we don't play, we'll just move forward. I'm optimistic, I think things are turning in the right direction. Just from being around my neighbourhood, I know people are doing their part and taking things very seriously. I think if everybody does that, we'll eventually start to flatten the curve and move forward. Hopefully sports can give an outlet to people that will help us bring life back to normal as much as possible during a tough time. Sports can play a big role in the moods of people and hopefully we can get to that point and help people out that way.
Q: (Chris Johnston, Sportsnet): During this period of self-evaluation and looking back on where the team is at, what did you make of how the first 70 games went and maybe where you guys can look to find improvement when the season does pick up?
JASON SPEZZA: I think it's the old adage that you always talk about. You don't want to cruise through the regular season because you need that experience to get you into the playoffs. Well, we certainly didn't cruise through the regular season. We had plenty of ups and downs, and sideways, and different things happen to us and I really think it's to the benefit of our group. I think we have a much more mature locker room at this point in time than we did at the start of the season. I think there's a lot more ownership of what's going on in the room. I think our young stars are able to have conversations with each other and with other guys on the team that maybe they weren't comfortable having early on in the season. As much as it sucks to go through this as a team and have to struggle and answer questions and build and get yourself out of a losing streak, I think, in the long run, it's something that we needed. Now to have a chance to have a break and look back on things, it'll only help us pinpoint what we need to do differently and move forward. It's not a straight line to the top for anyone.
Q: (Jonas Siegel, The Athletic): Jason I was just wondering two parts; what do you think has allowed you to play as long as you have and what is still motivating you to keep playing?
JASON SPEZZA: I think just my love for the game has allowed me to play for as long as I have. Hockey's not work to me. I enjoy the challenge. You go through different stages of your career, there's different challenges. I love the day-to-day grind and I love coming to the rink and figuring out what to do that day. So, kind of that passion is what has allowed me to play this long and just driving is that passion and the chance to win a Stanley Cup. I'm in it for a long as I can be as long as I can win a Stanley Cup. It's something that I dreamt of as a kid and I'd love nothing more than to do it here in Toronto. It would be pretty special. That's kind of my driving force right now is just having a chance to compete for a Stanley Cup again at some point and just the fact that I love the game.
Q: (Luke Fox, Sportsnet.ca): Just wondering what your early impressions were on William Nylander. You touched on Auston but what stood out to you about his game that you didn't really know playing in Dallas?
JASON SPEZZA: I kind of knew a little more about Willy because I had known his dad and I know some people that knew him. Willy's a guy who works really hard on his game. He loves the game, too. He practices a lot on his skill. I think at times he's probably lacked confidence. I think he really came up with a belief in his game and an understanding what he has to do night in and night out to be a dominant player and I think he added being around the net a little more this year, he got rewarded and then that kind of snowballs. You start scoring and you start feeling what it feels like to score every night. I think you can see the confidence growing. He has the outwardly confidence but as a player, it's knowing night-to-night how consistent you have to be. I think Sheldon really helped Willy gain a level of consistency in his game where a lot of nights he was one of the best players on the ice.
Q: (Luke Fox, Sportsnet.ca): And just to follow-up, I was wondering if you caught any of The Lance Dance or if you have an interest in the Michael Jordan documentary that's taken the world by storm the last couple of days?
JASON SPEZZA: Yeah, I did. My wife was joking that she hadn't seen me so excited to watch a TV show in a long time. I spent a good portion of my youth in a Michael Jordan jersey that I bought on a family trip to Florida. I've got hundreds of pictures with the jersey on so that's right in the heyday of my fandom. To see the behind-the scene -- you've heard the stories but to see the raw footage is pretty cool.
Q: (Luke Fox, Sportsnet.ca): Was there a scene that stood out to you?
JASON SPEZZA: I think just some of the one-on-one conversations that gets into his insight. There's a lot of the scenes that leaked but just seeing his insight on some situations and the stuff talking about them blowing up the team before they had even won their sixth championship. That's stuff, even with how much of a fan you become, I didn't know the inside of that because I was a young kid. Just to kind of see the history of it all is kind of cool. Some of the practice confrontations and stuff like that is what you kind of expect from Michael with the stories you hear but it's cool to see.
