Welcome back to Toronto, Jason Spezza! Hope you enjoy the view of Scotiabank from the pre s box. That's the me sage head coach Mike Babcock sent to Jason Spezza on the eve of the NHL Germaine Pratt Jersey season opener. The NHL veteran will be a healthy scratch for the Toronto Maple Leafs when they open the season against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday which also happens to be Spezza's former team. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed, but I'm also a profe sional," Spezza said following the Leafs' morning skate, . As per Sporting News' Dave McCarthy, Spezza battled with Frederik Gauthier during the preseason for a role in the bottom-6 and Babcock was liking what he was seeing from the younger forward. Nick Shore will slot in at center. MORE: The Toronto native spent 12 years with the Senators, who took him second Clark Harris Jersey overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draftbefore he was traded to the Dallas Stars prior to the start of the 2014-15 campaign. After five seasons with Dallas, with his hometown Maple Leafs at the league minimum in order to make a childhood dream come true. "Just to have a chance to put on a Leaf jersey is going to be pretty special for me. Like Pooka Williams Jr. Jersey I said, to see the logo beside my name on TV looks pretty good," . "When you get drafted by Ottawa and play 12 years there, you probably don't think that's going to happen. That's the biggest rivalry." NHL SN predictions: A 12-time 50-point scorer and five-time 30-goal scorer, his production has declined over the last two seasons; he had eight goals and 26 points in 78 games in 2017-18 and followed up with another eight-goal campaign and 27 points, as well as a plus/minus rating of minus-13. Still, with 915 points in 1,065 games, Vonn Bell Jersey Spezza is capable of bringing a lot to thetable; he's a player who can win face-offs, play a role on the power play and at least put up bottom-6 numbers. He also brings a much-needed veteran presence to a relatively young Toronto team. Tyler Seguin shares what Leafs fans can expect from Jason Spezza. TSN (@TSN_Sports) Following backlash on Twitter and controversy surrounding the decision, Babcock said Spezza will see action on Friday when the Leafs take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. Babcock says Spezza will play next game. Says him and Spezza are on the same page about the plan. There will be a rotation. Says Spezza needs Brandon Wilson Jersey a bit more practice on the PK. Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) The puck drops between Ottawa and Toronto at 7 p.m. ET.