It's not exactly the homecoming Jason Spezza was hoping for. After signing a one-year deal as a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason, he'll be on the sidelines for the Leafs' home opener Wednesday night as a healthy scratch. The 36-year-old is from Ontario and was pumped to be signed by the team he grew up cheering for.

“I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm disappointed. He's the coach, it's up to him" Spezza told TSN's Gino Reda. "You play the hand you're dealt. I have to be ready for when I get in to play well.”

If Spezza had dressed for tonight, that would have meant playing in the Leafs' home opener against his old team (Ottawa) in front of family, friends and fans. Instead, head coach Mike Babcock has opted for 23-year-old Dmytro Timashov, 27-year-old Nick Shore and 24-year-old Frederik Gauthier on the fourth line. According to TSN's Mark Masters, Spezza will play Friday in Columbus, adding Babcock wants to give the veteran some time to "get up to speed" on the penalty kill unit.

Jeff O'Neill, appearing on the Leafs Lunch radio broadcast, claimed Babcock didn't like the Spezza signing and now he's flexing his muscle to make a statement that this is his lineup and the GM can give him whatever players he wants, but only he and the coaching staff can decide how they are deployed. Carlo Colaiacovo and Craig Button, appearing on the same broadcast, said unrestricted free agents looking to sign in Toronto are now being given the impression that Mike Babcock may have you riding the pine if he doesn't like the signing, regardless of how you handle yourself.

Fans on Twitter had a similar reaction to the announcement, calling the decision disrespectful and frustrating.

This will be the first time in Spezza's career that he'll be sitting out his team's home opener.