Leafs pull Jason Spezza out of the lineup ahead of tonight’s game

Veteran forward Jason Spezza might have been pleased to get a new head coach when the Toronto Maple Leafs fired Mike Babcock in November, however, the story seems all too familiar on Thursday. 

Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe decided to keep Spezza out of the lineup on Thursday night as Toronto face the Jets in Winnipeg. 

Spezza was often a healthy scratch when Babcock was behind the bench and even commented to Sportsnet on the chance he was given by Keefe when he took over. 

“Coming here, I just wanted a role. I wanted to be a part of the team, and I knew I’d be a guy who can move up and down the lineup, help out and fill holes with injuries. I want a chance to win. That’s why I came here.

“Opening night was definitely a little different, but I came here to try to win. And if you want to have a good locker room, when things don’t go your way, you have to keep your head above water. You have to keep everybody else positive.

“If you ask my wife how I felt about it, she gets the truth [chuckles]. If you ask my teammates, you try to make it seem as little as possible. That’s the reality of the situation, and that’s why I’m obligated to do that — because I want to be in a positive dressing room.

“Even with the last couple games with Babs here, I was forced to play more because we had injuries — and if I wasn’t ready, then who knows where that would have put me?

Vintage might be asking himself the same question as he watches the game tonight from the press box.