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

[Bandit]

LMAO. Good luck with that Florida. No cup for you, come back one year...

 

[Rude Dog]

I thought he was the most dangerous Leafs on the PP last year. Maybe if they keep him there, with little 5vs5 time it can work.

You forgot the smiley face. He was completely useless.

 

[Papa044]

LMAO. Good luck with that Florida. No cup for you, come back one year...

he won’t be getting 1st line duties don’t worry

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

But why?

 

[Anaheim4ever]

First game between Florida and Tampa: Thornton and Perry drop the gloves. They've taken the battle of california into the battle of florida.

 

[Bandit]

he won’t be getting 1st line duties don’t worry

I'm not worried, I'm not a Panthers fan. Dude shouldn't even be getting 4th line minutes on a real team. You'll find out I guess.

 

[wacko2]

LoL

 

[Pavelski2112]

At league min and keeping him as a PP specialist/13th forward, it's a solid signing. He's always been a great locker room presence and the Cats are gonna be a contender this year.

God I miss him.

 

[viceroy]

MB must be upset, he missed out on his annual over the hill vet signing

Why bring the Habs into this? Radulov played great for us. Kovalchuk gave us a few good games and we flipped him for a 3rd though we had offers for a 2nd supposedly. Perry and Staal were solid for us in the playoffs. All better than No Show Joe.

The value he adds to a locker room far exceeds his on-ice contributions. Florida just got a top-tier character guy. Everyone on the team can learn from him.

Actually his locker room presence is why he's problematic. During the regular season if the team's going through a slump he's great. He's jokey, he gets people relaxed and helps the team get over it. On the other hand in the playoffs when intensity is a must his attitude is a negative.

For instance during the Habs-Leafs playoffs things got dire for MTL. The story is that after the debacle that was Game 4 when the Buds crushed the Canadiens, Corey Perry and Eric Staal chewed out the team and explained that if the team didn't start winning they might never ever win again in their careers. They explained that they had both won Cups early in their careers and never got another sniff.

Lol at all the washed up comments. Imagine being so “useless” according to a bunch of internet losers and still commanding a 750k salary. What a badass. Go get em Jumbo!

Yeah F you Panthers! Suckers! Go get that money Big Joe!

Florida got a huge amount of talk and presence here. Leadership and example. He talks the most.

Like I said above, the wrong kind of Talk in the playoffs though. He's all "Let's have fun out there" like some little league coach. Winners are intense and aren't above demanding more from each other. I remember that it wasn't infrequent that the Blackhawks would often argue on the bench during their Cup era. They took things seriously.

When he said before game 7 versus the Habs that the Leafs were just going to go out there and "have fun tonight" I knew Toronto was done. (Okay, in fairness I knew they were done even before that but it doesn't fit my narrative).

I never liked the Jumbo signing in Toronto, and still don't. I really wonder what Dubas and now Zito thinks he is bringing to the club as he sure can't play anymore and his leadership abilities are ... well, see quote above.

Great post.

 

[Bruce Granville]

Too young to go South Florida, imho.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

If you want to discuss the signing itself, continue on. If you want to talk about COVID, there's a forum for that. If you want to talk politics, go someplace else.

 

[Nighthock]

I would say Florida has a good shot at making a run, but they still have to go through Tampa to get there. Should be interesting at least.

 

[TheBeard]

Having a guy like him is good for any young roster. Whether or not he even plays is irrelevant. His ability to keep a locker room loose helps the down times.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Word of advice...keep him out of the top nine and the top PP unit, use plenty of load management throughout the season, and he could be useful.

 

[Dread Clawz]

I would say Florida has a good shot at making a run, but they still have to go through Tampa to get there. Should be interesting at least.

We took Tampa to 6 games last year, without Ekblad and Reinhart. Then again Hedman wasnt 100%. But they lost their entire 3rd line this offseason. It would be a good series.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Could be useful as a 13th forward who plays 30% of the games and brings some levity to the dressing room. Always liked Joe, hope the Panthers have a deep run next season.

 

[capfit9]

this is now just becoming sad.

 

[Holy Slapshot]

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?

 

[Dog]

Well, sorry Panthers no cup for you! Wherever he goes and Marleau leads to no cup.

 

[zeroG]

Having a guy like him is good for any young roster. Whether or not he even plays is irrelevant. His ability to keep a locker room loose helps the down times.

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).

 

[mattef]

he was very good playing for the Montreal Canadiens last playoffs

 

[Church Hill]

Don't you want top tier character guys who know what it takes to win?

Since Joe Thornton is a lock for the hockey hall of fame after one of the most remarkable careers in NHL history, I'd say he knows what it takes to win.

 

[PromisedLand]

Retire already man. you are just an embarrassment now.

Prediction: Coach Q overplays Jumbo even when he sucks and panther fans lost their shits

 

[Fatass]

Jumbo might be celebrating a Cup win next June. Florida is a very good team.

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

It's Florida, he probably moved there so he doesn't have to wear a shirt.