Confirmed with Link: Joe Thornton to Leafs [1yr/700k]

[ottomaddox]

That’s carrying the team on his back? Reach much?

No player carries a team on their back. Of course it's an exaggeration. My point is: let's not get crazy here. Joe's beard hasn't done anything yet, and likely he won't be a huge factor.

 

[Avilaj07]

I don't understand how anyone can be complaining about this signing. We're not signing Joe Thornton to get us 50-60 points. If you haven't been paying attention, it's clear as day that our "core" in Matthews, Marner, and Nylander don't have that killer instinct in them. They don't have that drive and passion that it takes to win in the playoffs. Muzzin called it out multiple times last year. Having vets on our team like Tavares, Spezza, Muzzin, Simmonds, Bogosian and now Thornton will definitely hold our "core" accountable. Thornton isn't one to shy away from calling a teammate out and you better believe with the vets we have now, the core will definitely have to listen, and if they don't, I can see Dubas realizing this may not be the "core" to win it and start making some trades.

 

[Duckrider]

A 42 y/o jumbo can skate faster backwards then Jason Allison could skate forwards...Allison is the slowest player I ever seen play in the NHL.

Didn't he score 20g in his last year?

 

[CelticDruid]

For $700,000 it's a good deal, now someone has to be traded.

Looks like Tavares was a little too quiet for managements liking.

We witnessed Tavares being rather "Sulky" on the bench and had to have Spezza show ledership and some emotion during the playoffs. Hated seeing Tavares glum faced whilst sitting on the bench.

I think it would be a great idea and a sign of respect if Marner handed his A over to Thornton.

 

[stickty111]

Depth means nothing. Quality depth means something. Signing older players is a gamble not matter how much they cost. We just traded 2 big pieces of our bottom six and got significantly slower and older.

And how good did those 2 players look in the playoffs? After hating on our botton 6 all year, lets stop with the "how will we ever replace" them narrative now.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

For $700,000 it's a good deal, now someone has to be traded.

Looks like Tavares was a little too quiet for managements liking.

We witnessed Tavares being rather "Sulky" on the bench and had to have Spezza show ledership and some emotion during the playoffs. Hated seeing Tavares glum faced whilst sitting on the bench.

I think it would be a great idea and a sign of respect if Marner handed his A over to Thornton.

Or just give the 'A' to Muzzin, or let Matthews keep it permanently.

 

[BodaciousBeefBazooka]

I don't understand how anyone can be complaining about this signing. We're not signing Joe Thornton to get us 50-60 points. If you haven't been paying attention, it's clear as day that our "core" in Matthews, Marner, and Nylander don't have that killer instinct in them. They don't have that drive and passion that it takes to win in the playoffs. Muzzin called it out multiple times last year. Having vets on our team like Tavares, Spezza, Muzzin, Simmonds, Bogosian and now Thornton will definitely hold our "core" accountable. Thornton isn't one to shy away from calling a teammate out and you better believe with the vets we have now, the core will definitely have to listen, and if they don't, I can see Dubas realizing this may not be the "core" to win it and start making some trades.

Pretty much man. Spot on. 100%

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

No beard, no play.

 

[Cotton]

I don't understand how anyone can be complaining about this signing. We're not signing Joe Thornton to get us 50-60 points. If you haven't been paying attention, it's clear as day that our "core" in Matthews, Marner, and Nylander don't have that killer instinct in them. They don't have that drive and passion that it takes to win in the playoffs. Muzzin called it out multiple times last year. Having vets on our team like Tavares, Spezza, Muzzin, Simmonds, Bogosian and now Thornton will definitely hold our "core" accountable. Thornton isn't one to shy away from calling a teammate out and you better believe with the vets we have now, the core will definitely have to listen, and if they don't, I can see Dubas realizing this may not be the "core" to win it and start making some trades.

This is spot on.

 

[Morgs]

 

[Leafsfan74]

I said Leafs required men in the dressing room, guys who hate to lose. This isn't what I envisioned, but then again, nobody knew we would be living through a global pandemic. It's allowed the Leafs to accumulate affordable depth and leadership they couldn't normally accumulate, even if the Cap had increased.

Leafs now have the ability to insert players into the lineup if there are injuries while ensuring a high degree of competition for these positions. All of this, while improving accountability in the dressing room with players who have high expectations of themselves and their teammates. Players with a history of success. Team first players.

This team will be focused more than in any year prior with this core. If not, they will face the music with their teammates. Nothing is worse.

 

[al secord]

Also....did we really need anymore proof that we're the center of the universe?

 

[forecheck]

Funny how the moderator closed the original thread .. Didn't like the idea I guess ... Anyways - Great signing for leafs with a player who has many intangibles that the leafs require.

 

[phillipmike]

Ontario COVID cases top 200, 67% are people under 40 | Toronto Sun

 

[ShaneFalco]

This is spot on.

Indeed

 

[pylon17]

Eh. I doubt it. I think Kerfoot had an up and down season, but of anybody on the team that did, he has a real excuse (played through a broken face). Looked excellent for the most part in the playoffs in the 3C role.

I could see Jumbo taking over the 3C role at times though if we think we need to move Kerfoot's cap, potential injuries, and also if Keefe wants to put Kerfoot on the wing in the top-6 at times.

Thornton still is a serviceable 3C, so I wouldn't be too mad about it.

32% on faceoffs

 

[crump]

Hope he survives the season. Seriously though, don’t hate this.
Jumbo
Simmonds
Spezza
Muzzin
Bogosian

That is a lot of good veteran leadership to enhance our young core. I can hear the OK Boomer jokes now.

 

[Cleetus]

For $700,000 it's a good deal, now someone has to be traded.

Looks like Tavares was a little too quiet for managements liking.

We witnessed Tavares being rather "Sulky" on the bench and had to have Spezza show ledership and some emotion during the playoffs. Hated seeing Tavares glum faced whilst sitting on the bench.

I think it would be a great idea and a sign of respect if Marner handed his A over to Thornton.

I dont think ive ever seen Tavares's face change the whole time he has been here.... he looks the same all the time lol

 

[FlareKnight]

Love it. We’ll see how it goes, but a smart move. Get some really hungry guys who don’t have much time left to keep the whole team pushing and determined. Besides more voices that can just help when the team gets down or passive could be big.

Besides, it is Joe Thornton. That’s pretty wild. Got some real depth on the team and a pretty serious shift in the bottom 6.

 

[Ciao]

#1 C -- Auston Matthews 2016 #1 OA
#2 C -- John Tavares 2009 #1 OA
#3 C? -- Joe Thornton 1997 #1 OA
#4 C? -- Jason Spezza 2001 #2 OA

 

[sxvnert]

Always saw Thornton playing the same role as Spezza, jack of all trades, all over the lineup.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Food for thought... In 2018-2019 season (the last full season), Jason Spezza, Joe Thornton and a hurt Wayne Simmonds combined for 92 points. All three of those guys have been the Captain or the alternate Captain of their respective franchise and they're signed for a combined 2.9 million dollars.

Any other team in the league would be applauded for adding that type of leadership and depth production at such a cost effective price. The truth is that on HF boards there are some people that aren't even fans of a team. They literally exist to be Leaf haters.

 

[eramosat]

No risk, huge reward.

Worst case we trade him back to SJ for nothing. Best case he has a Spezza-like season.

Really couldn't understand why people didn't want him. Easily a better deal than Simmonds.

Well...could it be that a team with all of Spezza, Simmonds and now Thornton in it's bottom six is pretty damn strange? Not only bone fide top-tier 3rd line depth players like Kapanen and Johnnson been dumped because of the cap...even the min guys have little chance to advance in this Leafs org, due to the insane competition from these guys.

Toronto is just not a welcoming place, for a forward. Dubas has traded 1 promising forward in the past because he acknowledged Leafs weren't doing fair by them (that guy that went to the Canucks?). I wonder how big the line for that treatment is now.

All of this acknowledging that most of this matters little to the on-ice product, largely,,,it's the Big 4, Freddie and the Top4 D that dictates where the Leafs will end up. But if lower-tier player on the Leafs previousl felt apprehensive (and they should have)...now, it's like, what's the point of being here?

To quote South Park, "They took aour jooobbs!"

 

[A1LeafNation]

Thankfully Babcock not getting ready to scratch him opening night right now.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Call me crazy, but I have a good feeling about this.

I think Keefe will find a way to get the most of Thornton, and he can still contribute. He'll also be in game shape when the pre-season starts.