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Steve Spott using tough year with Leafs as learning experience

When Steve Spott reflects upon his one year as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs, a number of words come to mind.

Some you can print. Some you probably cannot.

From the beginning, when the Toronto Star reported that Spott had told a coaching clinic that Phil Kessel had refused to implement a new breakout play, it was a difficult season. Painful might be a better description. But as challenging as it was, Spott said he walked away using it as a valuable learning experience that has made him a better coach.

“You know what, I think when you have successful seasons as a coach, you don’t take time to reflect and appreciate them,” Spott said after running a practice for NHLers training at St.