It is the third straight season Spezza has signed for the NHL minimum to play for Toronto. The forward turned 38 on Sunday and could have become an unrestricted free agent July 28.
"I know where the team is at with the [NHL] salary cap and everything, and I'll be honest, all I care about is playing on a good team and just trying to win, so if I could take less, I would," Spezza said. "Anything I can do to help the team acquire better players, that's kind of why I take League minimum and want to move forward. It's been a few years now, so I don't think it's a story anymore."
Spezza said he had a lengthy conversation with his family after the sacrifices he said they made in their own lives in order to ensure he was able to meet the NHL COVID-19 protocols this season.
"This year [the discussion] was a longer one than normal because my family has needs," Spezza said. "My kids are getting older, I've got an 11-year-old, 9, 7 and 5, and the discipline they showed this year, not complaining, being in and out of school, and their friends were able to have play dates, but because of the protocols we were under, they really saw nobody all year. It was a huge sacrifice, and for my wife as well, who oftentimes is a single mom while we are on the road.
"Knowing that next year will be more normal hopefully for us as a team and not having to have such strict protocols, because that was a concern for them, to be away from their friends that long. I'm really thankful my family is allowing me to play again. It is a family decision at this point. When you have four kids and are trying to play later in my life, it's not just about me."
Spezza scored 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 54 regular-season games to help Toronto (35-14-7) earn the No. 1 seed from the Scotia North Division. It was his most points since 2016-17, when he scored 50 (15 goals, 35 assists) in 68 games for the Dallas Stars.
"Maybe I'm delusional, but I think I can get better and I'm going to try to improve on last season," Spezza said. "I'm right back in the gym already and trying to figure out what tweaks I can make to feel even better throughout the year. As you get older, health becomes a concern every year, so you have to get yourself in the best possible shape in order to get better."
Spezza scored five points (three goals, two assists) in the Stanley Cup First Round, when the Maple Leafs were eliminated in seven games by the Montreal Canadiens after losing the final three games of the best-of-7 series.
Spezza has made it past the first round three times in eight playoff appearances since helping the Ottawa Senators advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 2007.
"I'm still watching [the series] because I'm a student of the game and I enjoy watching, but it is harder than other years because I felt like we were a lot closer than our result," he said.
Selected by Ottawa with the No. 2 pick in the 2001 NHL Draft, Spezza has scored 970 points (351 goals, 619 assists) in 1,177 games for the Senators, Stars and Maple Leafs.
Though the chance to become the 92nd player in NHL history to score at least 1,000 points is in reach next season, Spezza said the milestone wasn't a factor when making his decision to return.
"Not that big a carrot to be honest. I'm not really too worried about the points," Spezza said. "But I'd love a nice run and play into the summer and be a part of a successful team. The feeling you have as a player when you are winning games is unmatched. I'm just going to play the game, try to win hockey games so we can have fun coming to the rink. I find I'm a better version of myself when we are winning games and happy."
Eleven Toronto players are eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 28, including forwards Joe Thornton, Zach Hyman and Alex Galchenyuk, and goalie Frederik Andersen.
Thornton, who will turn 42 on July 2, said earlier this month he had not made a decision on his future.
"This came so sudden, I really haven't had time to think about it," Thornton said.
