Jason Spezza and Joe Thornton are combining to give the Maple Leafs a line for the ages

There was a point after Maple Leafs practice Wednesday when Jason Spezza called over the rest of the team’s second power-play unit to chat.

“We were running over some power-play tips,” Leafs winger Zach Hyman said. “He’s been on the power play his whole career, and he’s got a ton of experience. He’s got different ways, different tricks. So we were trying to look at different things he wants to try, so we went out there and tried them.”

Such is the respect his teammates have for Spezza and his new linemate, Joe Thornton, two ageless wonders who are finding new life this season on the Leafs.

They were put on the same line Saturday, with Alex Kerfoot between them, and should at least start together again on Thursday against the Ottawa Senators. Not only does that mean that two of the game’s great nicknames — Vintage (Spezza) and Jumbo (Thornton) — are on the same line, but there’s a ton of hockey history on it, too.

“To see them play together, it’s pretty cool. We’re getting a kick out of it,” captain John Tavares said. “Two elite players. Two of the best in the game, future Hall of Famers. It’s tremendous to see the love and passion they have for the game and their teammates and what it means to be an NHL player.

“Those two guys came here towards the end of their careers, they believe in the group we have here and what our potential is, and what we want to achieve. They want it that bad.”

Between them, their numbers are staggering: Thornton and Spezza have combined to play 2,810 NHL games — with 771 goals and 1,708 assists — and an additional 264 playoff games. For good measure, both have played in Switzerland, combining for 114 games over there.

The 41-year-old Thornton is the more decorated of the two, with an Art Ross Trophy and Hart Trophy to his credit, along with Olympic gold, two World Cup golds and a world junior gold. The 37-year-old Spezza has a world championship gold and Spengler Cup gold.

Both have been to the Stanley Cup final, but have come up empty. Both may find themselves one day in the Hockey Hall of Fame. And both hope their time in Toronto means they’ll do so as Stanley Cup champions.

Those two separate, but similar, roads have led each of them to Toronto’s third line. It’s a line that shouldn’t make mistakes and should produce some offence. Both will get extra minutes on the power play. It means Wayne Simmonds can play with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. And it means Hyman can add his energy to Pierre Engvall and Ilya Mikheyev on an energy line that should produce at even strength as well.

Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe can be quick to juggle his lines, but he likes what he sees with those two veterans together.

“I’ve really liked that line,” said Keefe. “In particular, the way that Thornton and Spezza communicate, and talk, and how they want to succeed together.

“Two guys have a great admiration for each other and their careers, and to have them playing together, you can see that you see the excitement around it.”

Spezza seems a better fit this year, than last. He has seven goals — six at even strength — and 11 assists for 18 points in 31 games. That 0.58 points-per-game rate is his best rate in four years.

Thornton has been hampered by injury. He has three goals and nine assists for 12 points in 20 games, a 0.60 points-per-game rate, aided no doubt by his frequent presence on the team’s top line with Matthews and Marner. It’s a better rate of production than last season (0.49) but is the second lowest of his career.

Both continue to have an enthusiasm for the game that is unrivalled. Hyman, for example, marvelled at Spezza’s.

Loading…

Loading…Loading…Loading…Loading…Loading…

“He’s awesome. He knows so much. He enjoys watching hockey all the time,” said Hyman. “He enjoys watching other teams and picks up things from what other teams are doing. That’s what coaches do. They look at what other teams are doing and find out why they’re successful.

“He watches a ton of hockey. He’s played a ton of hockey. He’s been in the league for so long, he’s got a huge hockey IQ. When he’s not with his family, he spends his time thinking about hockey.”