Report: Jason Spezza Resigns from Maples Leafs Front Office After GM Kyle Dubas' Exit

Jason Spezza has resigned from the Toronto Maple Leafs front office after the franchise announced Friday that general manager Kyle Dubas would not return in 2023-24, per The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

Spezza had served as a special assistant to Dubas during the 2022-23 campaign, his first job since retiring from the NHL following a 19-year career.

Spezza, a Toronto native, spent the final three years of his career with the Maple Leafs, notching 31 goals and 49 assists for 80 points in 183 games.

The 39-year-old was selected second overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2001 draft and spent 11 seasons with the franchise before joining the Dallas Stars for five seasons from 2014 to '19.

In 1,248 career games, Spezza tallied 363 goals and 632 assists for 995 points. He ended his career having never won a Stanley Cup.

According to Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff, "many believed" Spezza would remain with the Maple Leafs "in a big way" despite the franchise's decision to part ways with Dubas. He added that Spezza "was a popular figure with the players, having played with much of the core, and seemed in tune with everything going on in the NHL."

Toronto's decision to part ways with Dubas following the team's second-round playoff loss to the Florida Panthers came as somewhat of a surprise, especially after Nick Kypreos of the Toronto Star reported Thursday that he was "sitting" on a contract extension offer worth around $4 million annually.

Dubas began his career with the Maple Leafs in 2014 when he was hired as assistant general manager. He was promoted to general manager in 2018 after Lou Lamoriello was fired.

The Maple Leafs made the Stanley Cup playoffs every year since Dubas took over as general manager. However, Toronto found minimal postseason success, suffering four first-round playoff exits before its second-round exit this year.

What's next for Dubas remains unclear. He told reporters earlier this week that if he wasn't general manager of the Maple Leafs next season, he would take a year off.

"It'll either be here or it'll be taking time to recalibrate (and) reflect on the seasons here," Dubas said. "But you won't see me next week pop up elsewhere."

As for Spezza, his NHL future also remains up in the air.