A Coaches job is to dress the best lineup for the game.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Pretty sure spezza could have handled those 8 sheltered minutes 😂

Babcock is just an insecure little man. He always feels he has to puff out his chest to show people he's in charge. The problem with him being a douchebag is that now it will be harder for the leafs to attract this type of player down the road. The only positive is that Dubas knows this as well and will cut the cord to fix the issue the moment Babcock doesn't deliver. Bye Bye Babs!!!

Precisely - highly unlikely with the same coach and management that you will see this happen again next year. Say all you want about Spezza being 'washed up' at 36 - he signed a 700K deal when he could have obviously gotten more elsewhere, and he did so when Toronto needs every dollar. Jumbo Joe's hometown discount at 40 cost $2M, which the Leafs could not fit under cap. I doubt any veterans will be jumping at the chance to run league minimum with the Leafs in the near future if Spezza rides a ton of pine.
- Bartacus

You realize Thornton scored almost double the points Spezza did last year right? And in less games.
And how do you know he could have "obviously" got more.
No one is lining up to sign Marleau at the league minimum, and he outscored Spezza last year too.