Simmonds and Spezza Giving Leafs Great Value, Much-Needed Experience

In speaking with media Friday, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas made it clear that his main target approaching the NHL’s March 21 trade deadline is a defenseman. That makes perfect sense, as, even with the projected return of veteran Jake Muzzin from concussion protocols, Toronto’s blueline needs depth.

But one of the key reasons the Leafs can focus on acquiring defensive help is because their forward group is very good – and one of the reasons why they’re very good is the play of veterans Jason Spezza and Wayne Simmonds.

We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: Spezza and Simmonds have provided Toronto with valuable experience, and they’ve done so at a very affordable salary cap hit. Simmonds is in the first year of a two-year, $1.8-million contract extension, while Spezza is, somehow, the lowest-paid player on the roster at $750,000 on a one-year deal. That’s $1.65-million combined for the duo this season, and for that, they’ve generated 14 goals and 32 points, in very limited minutes on the Buds’ fourth line. You can’t really ask for more than that, which is why Dubas can devote Toronto’s highly-limited cap space to the blueline.

Now, don’t kid yourself – if Dubas is offered a useful forward by the deadline, he won’t hesitate to make a move, and create more competition on Toronto’s bottom two forward lines. But it is highly unlikely he would trade away Simmonds or Spezza. The 38-year-old Spezza would probably retire in reaction to being moved, while the 33-year-old Simmonds has a limited no-trade clause that would be exercised to veto just about any deal that doesn’t ship him to a Cup contender on the Leafs’ level..

But nobody is calling for either Spezza or Simmonds to be moved. To the contrary – they’ve both played well enough this season to jump up to the third line in the event of an injury to someone like winger Ilya Miheyev, center David Kampf, or winger Ondrej Kase. Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe trusts Simmonds and Spezza, as there’s an urgency to their games that, the team hopes, will rub off on the rest of the roster.

Like all NHL veterans of a certain age, Spezza and Simmonds recognize their window in which to win a Stanley Cup is virtually closed, and when the playoffs roll around at the end of April, Dubas and Keefe will rely on the two of them to keep Toronto’s young core of talent on an even keel.

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We’re not here to suggest Spezza or Simmonds are elite players anymore. Father Time has taken a bite out of both of them, but their staying power in hockey’s best league is an impressive achievement, and they’ve shown there’s still some gas left in their competitive tanks. Simmonds gives the Leafs a robust edge, while Spezza gives them crafty creativity with the puck. And when Keefe sends either one of them over the boards, he doesn’t have to worry they’ll turn over the puck. They’re responsible in their own zone, and they’re still confident they can make a difference on offense.

In sum, they’ve worked out better than Leafs’ brass hoped for. And they’ve helped set a tone of expectancy that should boost the games of Toronto’s younger players to new heights. They no longer stand out on the scoresheet every night, but that’s OK. That’s what Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are there for. Spezza and Simmonds are role players, but they’re playing their roles extremely well.

And don’t be surprised when they do chip in timely goals when the playoffs begin. They still have enough talent to help make a difference for their hometown team.