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

[hockeywiz542]

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and David Amber discuss what it took for the Toronto Maple Leafs to sign Joe Thornton and the latest on the Patrik Laine situation in Winnipeg.

 

[Cleetus]

Not expecting much, but I'm excited because I'm a fan of his career. I think he'll be a great personality if nothing else.

IF we play 82 I’ll go on a limb 13 goals 35 assists

 

[Golden_Jet]

So whats the line up looking like?

Forwards:
Hyman-Matthews-Marner
Mikheyev-Tavares-Nylander
Kerfoot-Jumbo-Simmonds
Robertson-Engvall-Spezza

Defense
Rielly Brodie
Muzzin Holl
Dermott/Lehtonen Bagosian

Goalies
Andersen
Campbell

Extra Forward(s)
Barbanov/Vasey/Anderson

Extra D-Men
Marincin/Sandin/Liljegren

Is this under the cap?

I think Engvall out, and Barbonov in one of the bottom 6 roles.

 

[egd27]

Marleau wasn't with the team so the word was it was the Capt that told him to keep it to himself .

There was no captain at that point.

 

[smitty10]

I live on the west coast, caught a decent number of Sharks games, Joe still has some gas in the tank IMO. I think he’s currently a bit better than Spezza, who has worked out well for us. Big, reasonably physical, competes hard, doesn’t make many mistakes, still has that elite hockey IQ. Slow, but that’s OK.

Personally, I like him as our 3C, moving Kerfoot to the wing. I can see something like this working:

Hyman - Matthews - Marner
Mikheyev - JT - Nylander
Kerfoot - Thornton - Barbanov
Robertson - Spezza - Simmonds
Vesey

I think that Kerfoot will be traded before the season starts. Wouldn't be surprised if we sign Erik Haula or someone else to fill that third line spot at a cheaper price tag.

Also think it's a toss up between Robertson making the Leafs or playing with the Marlies. It's more probable that he'll play top line minutes with the Baby Leafs. We'll likely see Vesey or Engvall in the top 12 along with Boyd as the 14th forward.

 

[Peiskos]

how many cups?

One with the Leafs is the goal.

 

[Thornbury]

So now what?
Yeah, I can see having depth is a big problem?
Our entire team is crowded with bodies.

Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
Mikheyev - Tavares - Marner
Vesey - Kerfoot - Simmonds
Barabanov - Thornton - Spezza
Engvall, Robertson

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl
Lehtonen - Dermott
Sandin - Bogo
Lilly

Andersen
Campbell
Dell

 

[Smif]

So Thornton will improve, and Kerfoot, who had a broken face for most of the season and played with a full face shield....will regress?

What am I missing here?

The fact that Thornton put up 51 points as a 40 year old and Kerfoot's best year is 43 points?

 

[Brown Dog]

I'm thinking that Marner left 700K too much on the table

So is Marner.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Dubas has pretty much done what everyone here has wanted.

He looked at the top ranked offense (when Keefe took over) and said we could sacrifice some of it, and there needed to be more veteran leadership, physicality, and defensive responsibility surrounding the young core.

I’d say he did that.

Dubas like or hate him has some balls man

 

[Cobra777]

IF we play 82 I’ll go on a limb 13 goals 35 assists

Like the numbers, I'll guess 16 goals 35 assists provided a full season lol

 

[stator]

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and David Amber discuss what it took for the Toronto Maple Leafs to sign Joe Thornton and the latest on the Patrik Laine situation in Winnipeg.

Who needs to listen on a POD cast when the answer is very obvious.... it took DW to say no, retire Joe.

 

[Cleetus]

Who needs to listen on a POD cast when the answer is very obvious.... it took DW to say no, retire Joe.

so DW resigns Marleau, but tells Joe to Retire?

 

[stickty111]

Dubas has pretty much done what everyone here has wanted.

He looked at the top ranked offense (when Keefe took over) and said we could sacrifice some of it, and there needed to be more veteran leadership, physicality, and defensive responsibility surrounding the young core.

I’d say he did that.

Yup. The defence should be improved. Added a different aspect to the lineup. Depth at all positions.

 

[Knies iT]

Not to stir anything up... I am just a little confused why so many people here are so excited for Joe's leadership or Joe in general ? I mean we are talking about the same Joe that could never get very talented Shark teams over the hump, the same Joe that was the leader of a Sharks team that had one of the worst regular seasons collapses in recent years ... if Tampa provided any kind of blue print on how to win its very clear you have to be fast and skilled (including your bigger guys) and young from top to bottom and your GMs answer to that is Spezza (hes never been fast or a good skater) and 41 year old Joe ?

You guys have a very skilled young core but also one that is filled with some questionable character it seems and until one of the core younger guys starts being "that guy" ; the guy that brings it consistently on and off the ice for the whole season management can bring in 30 vets for "leadership" and nothing will change. You really think someone with Matthews ego can be influenced by a guy like Joe. Tavares comes to mind as a candidate but hes had plenty of opportunities without much to show for it and giving him the C over Morgan Rielly to me still doesn't make sense.

It's actually tiring explaining basic logic repeatedly on this site.

How the hell does going from Frederik Gauthier to Joe Thornton put the team's speed identity into question? In the 4C hole that will play less than 10 minutes per night? With Spezza rotating in/out?

You're making character and ego insinuations predicated on baseless narratives. How does Matthews have an ego that impedes him from listening to a veteran - because he has tattoos? Funny, because Matthews was the one player who actually was "that guy" in the playoffs this year and took control of the entire ice for the Leafs. Marleau's impact on him is well documented.

You're acting like this is the NBA, and that on a 23 man roster, Thornton should have simply willed the Sharks to win a cup. Was Ray Bourque a gutless choker? How about Ovechkin? Some players go decades or entire careers without winning despite being some of the most competitive athletes in the game. It's not as simplified as you're trying to boil it down to be.

 

[HolyCrap]

Dubas like or hate him has some balls man

He’s addressing most of what we wanted. Gotta give credit where credit is due. Fingers crossed this works.

 

[kb]

The fact that Thornton put up 51 points as a 40 year old and Kerfoot's best year is 43 points?

2 years ago, yes.

So Thornton is the long term solution?

Let's not be obtuse here. This is one and done for Thornton. Why move Kerfoot? Or is this truly a one year shot?

 

[6ix]

Might have to get myself a Thornton jersey!

 

[Smif]

So Thornton is the long term solution?

Let's not be obtuse here. This is one and done for Thornton. Why move Kerfoot? Or is this truly a one year shot?

When did I say Thornton was the long-term solution or that we should move Kerfoot?

 

[Cobra777]

Oh how much can a real leafs fan love THIS post sire. YOU GOT IT. That last kadri quote is so key...... that team is my favourite team since like 2009 or something like that. I loved that playoff team with those guys Orr, Mclaren, Frazer, even Brown played for us a while, just got traded in the end though. That was a real tough thug team. We almost beat the bruins then in seven games. Now we have that chance again sire We might actually do it this time with our current vets and thugs! Its gunz in the air time again baby!

LOL man that season I'll never forget that game where we played the Habs and McClaren hit one of them hard and a big scrum happened, McClaren looked after the one guy while 3 habs were skating towards Orr and Orr picked one of them and knocked him out with his first punch, the other two seein that bailed and the rest turn white as Casper the friendly ghost made my night lol.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Dubas like or hate him has some balls man

Incorrect, if it was up to Dubas he'd have a top 9 of tiny skilled guys, and a 4th line of larger, softer players. This is all Shanny stepping in and slapping Dubas in the pee pee.

 

[kb]

When did I say Thornton was the long-term solution or that we should move Kerfoot?

That's what people in here are clamouring for. Dumping Kerfoot because the Leafs have no need for him because they have Thornton.

That's what I was saying is stupid, frankly. I'm good with the signing, but not good with the lack of forethought.

 

[justashadowof]

23rd NHL season. That's really something.

 

[Mess]

In 2005-06 Leafs brought home local GTA players London, Ontario Eric Lindros and North York, Ont own Jason Allison and the team finished with 90 points and missed the playoffs and not even Mats Sundin could overcome the nostalgia of bringing local boys home to wear the Blue and White in the twilight of their careers.

Both coach Quinn and soon after JFJ were fired as the Leafs began a 7 year playoff drought starting with that season.

Lets hope the Thornton and Spezza is not another history repeating itself event, but in fairness Allison was only 30 and Lindros 32 and not 37 and 41.

The 2020-21 will be a compressed schedule with lots of back to back and 3 games in 4 nights and for that you need young players with young legs & endurance and quick recover and its hard image either Thornton nor Spezza being able to perform at any contributing level under those conditions. Thornton is even going to play in the Swiss league leading up the start of the new NHL season and be worn out by the time it even begins.

 

[matt trick]

90% of you will love him. His love for the game is infectious, and he is still a pretty solid player.