Confirmed Signing with Link: [FLA] Joe Thornton signs with the Panthers (1 year, $750k)

[NYSPORTS]

Well, as of now Florida should be looked at as a contender. They were pretty good already last year even without Ekblad. With better goalies they could have won the series against Tampa. And now they have added Reinhart and Montour. They are pretty stacked:

Verhaeghe - Barkov - Reinhart
Huberdeau - Bennett - Duclair
Vatrano - Lundell - Tippett
Marchment - Acciari - Hornqvist

Thornton, Luostarinen

Weegar - Ekblad
Nutivaara - Montour
Forsling - Gudas
Juulsen

Knight
Bobrovsky

wouldn't Reinhart be the #2 center?

 

[Kegsey]

People get upset about team’s giving Thornton a league minimum contract but he had 20 pts in 44 games while Getzlaf had 17 pts in 48 games and signed for 4.5 million next year. Yes I understand that Jumbo played with great teammates on the Leafs but you can’t tell me he’s not worth 750k if Getzlaf gets 4.5 Million.

 

[T REX]

"He's here for off the ice reasons...mentoring"=he can't play anymore

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Healthy scratch material

also dude really needs to shave , its about time i think

 

[Dread Clawz]

wouldn't Reinhart be the #2 center?

Nah Huberdeau and Bennett is a great combo, they had instant chemistry, that line will be given every chance. Reino has a very underrated shot and lining up next to Barkov I think is a natural fit.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Nah Huberdeau and Bennett is a great combo, they had instant chemistry, that line will be given every chance. Reino has a very underrated shot and lining up next to Barkov I think is a natural fit.

pretty loaded and exciting team

 

[wpgallday1960]

Worked well for the Leafs, might as well try Florida.

 

[zar]

That’s a massive overpayment… for a mascot.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Why do teams still offer him a contract? It's certainly not for his winning pedigree and leadership.

 

[LeafGrief]

Good for Joe. I'm sure he'll have a great year playing in Florida, chilling with the young guns, and enjoying the sun. He might even get to play in a few Panthers games.

 

[LeafGrief]

Why do teams still offer him a contract? It's certainly not for his winning pedigree and leadership.

Leafs were looking for the leadership. We all know how that went, but maybe he's still one of the league's great locker room presences. 750k for some laughs to try and loosen Bobrovsky up a little or something.

 

[ShootIt]

I mean for a possible 5th center/injury depth we have seen worse.

750k for vet presence for the young guys sounds good to me.

 

[joe galiba]

He is a POS
I hope FLA doesn't win a game until they cut his a$$

 

[frisco]

Who is going to be #2-C and run the second unit PP now for Toronto?

My Best-Carey

 

[MMC]

Reminds me of how Udonis Haslem keeps getting contracts with the Heat even though he hasn’t played in anymore than 16 games in a season in 5 years and only played in 1 game last year (though due to his loyalty I don’t see why he doesn’t at least play garbage time ). Seems he’ll be more of a coach than an actual player

 

[Pyrophorus]

Let's hope he gets top line mins and PP time!!

Ian Tulloch and Anthony Petrielli, says that Joe being on the PP, was the reason for how poor it was (among other things)
Really a firm indictment

 

[Necrobutcher]

He is a POS

How exactly?

 

[Laus723]

He is a POS
I hope FLA doesn't win a game until they cut his a$$

lmao what??

 

[floridada]

I don't get this. Isn't 750 a bit steep for locker room joker? Apparently he isn't able to bring anything more, Panthers team is looking super stacked, they don't even need "mentor" anymore as the core is there together for sevaral years now... Why the hell?

Did you not see what we were paying Yandle? 750k is nothing lmao.

 

[joe galiba]

lmao what??

his attempt to end Perron's career coming out of the penalty box cause a ref had the nerve to give him a penalty

Dale Hunter level d-bag

 

[Mobiandi]

I think he retires mid-season

 

[Mikeshane]

Another year to laugh at Joe Thornton being terrible, sounds good to me.

 

[TheBeard]

i didn't realize this was his schtick.

could be that zito wanted to bring someone in to replace yandle in that regard, but pay absolute minimum and not have to depend on him for anything else barring injuries or major wash outs (like lundell).

I remember when Hertl scored his 4 goal game and took a lot of heat for that last goal. The comments Thornton made were polarizing but clearly done to divert some of the criticism from an excited rookie. He seems to have a great grasp between being a young player and how the media will run with anything.

 

[KCC]

lol. dude needs to give it up. he's done.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

At least you can bury him if needed, he’s not really that good anymore. Cheap depth though, maybe he proves everyone wrong.

Great character guy though, just the skill isn’t there.