Leafs linked to former player in GM talks

According to a report from Ottawa Senators insider Dean Brown of TSN1200, former Senators forward turned NHL executive Jason Spezza's father Rino has passed away.

From Brown:

Spezza, who is Kyle Dubas' assistant GM with the Pittsburgh Penguins', is taking a brief leave of absence from the team to be with his family during this difficult time.

Penguins head coach Dan Muse informed the media of the news last night after Brown initially broke the story.

"Jason lost his father, Rino, last night. Getting to know Jason over this past year, he's an incredible person from an incredible family, and we're all thinking of them at a time like this."

RIP Rino Spezza, gone but never forgotten.

Incidentally, Spezza's name has popped up in recent discussion concerning the Toronto Maple Leafs' vacant GM position. Spezza, of course, was previously with the Leafs as both a player and an executive before moving over to the Penguins with Dubas.

NHL insiders like Elliotte Friedman and Darren Dreger have both reported that Spezza fits the mold put forth by Leafs CEO Keith Pelley, but so far there's no indication that the Leafs have reached out to Spezza. Stay tuned.