Jason Spezza offers emotional explanation of how much it hurts not winning the Cup

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Joshua Deeds
May 29, 2022 (5:02 PM)

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Jason Spezza announced his retirement from the NHL this morning, with 19 years in the league behind him. While never winning a Stanley Cup, Spezza shares just how heartbroken he was for never being able to achieve his life long dream.

I don't think I can ever put into words how much it means to me to try to win Stanley Cup. There's definitely a huge void in my heart and my career without having been able to win it. I've had many sleepless nights over the course of my career wondering what can do different and what need to do differently and how I need to change to win a Stanley Cup and then to not win a Stanley Cup as a player is very difficult. It's my life work, hockey. And to not be a champion in it is hard. But think that will help me drive towards wanting to stay in the game, too. never feel maybe the same as being a player but I'm going to try to wina Stanley Cup as an executive and as part of the organization now and thatll keep me driven.

The 19-year NHL veteran will join Kyle Dubas in the front office, as an Assistant General Manager and keep the pushing for a cup going. Spezza was drafted in 2001 by the Ottawa Senators, 2nd overall in the 1st round.

Spezza shared his 1,248 regular-season games between the Ottawa Senators, Dallas Stars, and Toronto Maple Leaf franchises, and collected 76 points in 97 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Spezza attained the Senators captaincy in 2013, the 8th player to do so in team history.

In his international career, he earned a silver medal and two bronze medals in the IIHF with Team Canada.

The two-time NHL All-Star (2008, 2012) ranks in the top 100 on the NHL's all-time list for games played (t-96th), assists (80th) and points (94th). In addition to serving as the eighth captain in Senators franchise history, Spezza sits sixth in all-time club games played (686), and second in goals (251), assists (436) and points (687) through his 11 seasons in Ottawa.

His transition into the front office should be a smooth one, considering how well he's lent himself in a voluntary leadership role in the team and it'll be exciting to see how he shapes the Maple Leafs' future.