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Toronto Maple Leafs make centre Jason Spezza a healthy scratch for opener

Oct 2, 2019 | 9:52 AM

TORONTO — New Toronto Maple Leafs centre Jason Spezza will be a healthy scratch for the season opener tonight against the visiting Ottawa Senators.

Head coach Mike Babcock’s decision will keep Spezza on the sidelines for a game against a Senators team that drafted him second overall in 2001.

Spezza played 10 seasons with the Senators from 2002 to 2014 before being traded to the Dallas Stars.

The 36-year-old Toronto native signed with the Maple Leafs for the NHL minimum US$700,000 this off-season.