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

[PromisedLand]

There is no question when you sign a bunch of aging vets at the end of their careers that you're going All-in on Win-Now, and based on this management team knowing they need positive playoffs results we will have to see if this strategy pays off. Patience is not on the menu when you're signing 41 year olds!!!

They traded a lot of speed in Kapanaen and AJ for cap space to rebuild the bottom 6 with players like Thornton, Simmonds and bringing back Spezza that are not exactly fleet of foot. None of those players scoring double digit goals last year with all less than < 10 goals on the year. So if support scoring from your bottom 6 was a concern last year this doesn't fix that here either, to help offset your top heavy top 4 cap players.

I try to picture the Leafs Columbus series over this time with the new players here and trying to get through that neutral zone trap and hard to picture players like Thornton skating the puck through a clogged up centre ice or be effective at dump and chase without the skating ability to win puck battles. In fact Leafs are more exposed to the speed themselves now in the bottom 6 after the reconstruction in their own Dzone.

Cross our fingers and hope it works out for our Leafs but I have my doubts as forward thinking is generally preferred rather than dwelling and living in the past. IMO

I see your point but I think leafs will still have speed in the bottom 6 on the wings

Kerfoot-Jumbo-Robertson/Barabanov

Engvall/Roberson/Barabanov - Spezza - Simmonds

those 4 contracts have left Leafs handcuffed for at least 3 more years; not much room left to manoeuvre and make adjustments IMO

 

[Superstar]

Werent you clamoring against greed time and time again? Thorton once took 17.09% of his teams cap. Thats over 13.9mm in todays money. Isnt greed really really bad? Will he infect everyone to be someone worse than your obvious high standards?

$700k is not $10.893 million.

 

[crump]

Sure, a bit older, slower, but also wiser.

You can skate circles around people and have average IQ with the puck . Joe still thinks the game at a high level. Keefe will utilize these guys to their strengths. Plus it’s only $700,000. Any die hard Leaf fan in Toronto could have sold their house and brought Joe in.

 

[ICE FIRE]

I see it as a no risk move and if he is broken down or injuries put him on the shelf not a big deal.

I do think he may be on the edge of breaking down though since after 14 years San Jose said see ya later and instead took back Marleau.

 

[AreBe]

Leafs entre the Canadain Penalty Box era where the Leafs commit real penalties - actual, clear, demonstrative penalties in the playoffs and get called for it. Uniquely, the Leafs get called for it.

Get ready for a lot of box sitting from Joe Thorton, especially in the playoffs as the American Association of Unites States Ice Hockey Teams puts the Canadain Branch Plant Division in its proper place, outside of the playoffs.

On the plus side:
1, didn't trade young Ivan Svnsky for a 40+-year-old
2, didn't give up a couple of the first-round drafts picks like former management was eager to do;
3, didn't move a player off the roster
4, Ptr Svensky, Ivan's brother, gets another year in the AHL for development
5, only one year.

On the downside:
1, Penastly box champ come playoffs
2 too slow so lots of hooking and holding penalties
3, We are getting the Leafs Nation nemesis, used to be Awsome Sause Man, but now he's Pylon Man. just getting blown by, like a pylon on some road, or on a highway, or any of a long list of Victory Lap Leafs players.
4Textbook President's Choice Memories of When They were good.

Could be a player-coach, Good Canadian Kid can run penalty box sitting drills for the European players as they don't have experience in that.

 

[Leafsfan74]

I absolutely get the point of this post: the Leafs are still overall a fast team.

I don't think skating speed and skating ability are quantum variables. There are points between fast and slow, and, good and bad skater. Thornton and Spezza are glacial skaters but they're definitely not immobile bad skaters. I don't think Hyman is fast or that Simmonds is particularly slow. I don't think players like Marner and Barabanov are fast as much as agile on their skates. Tavares is probably the team's ugliest skating forward but he's still hoovering just below average in terms of speed.

We've all seen mismatches of speed on NHL teams before. When it's most noticeable is when the puck carrier doesn't skate with pace while his linemates do: awkward zone entries, offsides and too much separation on the rush. We'll see who can function as linemates of the slower paced old guys. I don't think every player will be a good match.

There is more than one way to play the game. This team needs to have different looks and balance. Something I've harped on for some time (even on my old account on ML old main forum). We always seem to have too much of one of the other for the last 15 years. Leafs have finally obtained the difficult part, young, fast, talented goal scorers. They need(ed) to fill in the blanks.

This lack of balance was especially puzzling knowing Shannys experience in Detroit as a player. He obviously let Dubas construct his vision, and/or, like many of us, they might have presumed the game would be so tightly called that speed alone would dominate. Speed is vital, you need it as a team, but, we should all know, fairly or not; the playoffs are a different breed.

Andreychuk scored back to back 50 goals seasons, and he was slow. He was a big man who stood in front of the net (something the Leafs could use more of), during a time when he would take immense abuse. He didn't fight, wasn't overly physical, but he sacrificed. That's a bygone era, but you will always need leaders by example. Gallagher in Montreal is 5'9, but you wouldn't know it by the way he forces himself to the net. Commitment.

It's something I see JT willing to do more often and it matters. JVR made those types of contributions and it made a big difference. Not just on the scoreboard but in the eyes of your teammates and fans. Nobody in history has ever won a Cup, often even a single playoff round; without great sacrifice and determination.

Joe, Spezza, Simmonds and Bogo will make contributions beyond the scoreboard. They will lead by example. They will stand up for their teammates. Anyone think Spezza dropping the gloves wasn't more than a spur of the moment decision? He was letting everyone know "I still care". He's still in the NHL, a former #1 pick because he loves the game and he has adapted to his role.

 

[CincoHolio]

It's possible that our C at some point this season will consist if 1st OA 2016, 1st OA 2009, 1st OA 1997, 2nd OA 2001. Neat

Generations. That's a lot of high hockey-IQ

 

[MattySnipes]

Leafs-Habs matchups will be fun to watch this year. Seeing Jumbo drill Toffoli will bring back memories.

 

[pylon17]

Leafs entre the Canadain Penalty Box era where the Leafs commit real penalties - actual, clear, demonstrative penalties in the playoffs and get called for it. Uniquely, the Leafs get called for it.

Get ready for a lot of box sitting from Joe Thorton, especially in the playoffs as the American Association of Unites States Ice Hockey Teams puts the Canadain Branch Plant Division in its proper place, outside of the playoffs.

On the plus side:
1, didn't trade young Ivan Svnsky for a 40+-year-old
2, didn't give up a couple of the first-round drafts picks like former management was eager to do;
3, didn't move a player off the roster
4, Ptr Svensky, Ivan's brother, gets another year in the AHL for development
5, only one year.

On the downside:
1, Penastly box champ come playoffs
2 too slow so lots of hooking and holding penalties
3, We are getting the Leafs Nation nemesis, used to be Awsome Sause Man, but now he's Pylon Man. just getting blown by, like a pylon on some road, or on a highway, or any of a long list of Victory Lap Leafs players.
4Textbook President's Choice Memories of When They were good.

Could be a player-coach, Good Canadian Kid can run penalty box sitting drills for the European players as they don't have experience in that.

You try too hard. It wasn't funny.

 

[AreBe]

You try too hard. It wasn't funny.

It's not funny- he is going to be in the box come playoff time because the game is called differently in the playoffs- Americain teams can crosscheck, hook, trip and interfere and Canadian teams cannot.
Joe Thorton will be a liability come playoff time because 1, he is going to be in the box, and 2, he is going to be in the box because he is too slow and so he needs to hook, clutch, and grab, and Canadian teams get called for that in the American Association of United States Ice Hockey Teams

We are eating up President's Choice Memories of When They Were Good, and we fail to get that we are getting Victory Lap Joe Thorton.
But only for a year and for a cheap price- further hallmarks of a victory lap player.

 

[TIGERCOOL]

Leafs entre the Canadain Penalty Box era where the Leafs commit real penalties - actual, clear, demonstrative penalties in the playoffs and get called for it. Uniquely, the Leafs get called for it.

Get ready for a lot of box sitting from Joe Thorton, especially in the playoffs as the American Association of Unites States Ice Hockey Teams puts the Canadain Branch Plant Division in its proper place, outside of the playoffs.

On the plus side:
1, didn't trade young Ivan Svnsky for a 40+-year-old
2, didn't give up a couple of the first-round drafts picks like former management was eager to do;
3, didn't move a player off the roster
4, Ptr Svensky, Ivan's brother, gets another year in the AHL for development
5, only one year.

On the downside:
1, Penastly box champ come playoffs
2 too slow so lots of hooking and holding penalties
3, We are getting the Leafs Nation nemesis, used to be Awsome Sause Man, but now he's Pylon Man. just getting blown by, like a pylon on some road, or on a highway, or any of a long list of Victory Lap Leafs players.
4Textbook President's Choice Memories of When They were good.

Could be a player-coach, Good Canadian Kid can run penalty box sitting drills for the European players as they don't have experience in that.

I wanna try boomerposting some time... seems fun.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Gotta' figure we run two balanced PPs again. Matthews, Tavares, Nylander, Marner, Spezza, Thornton, Simmonds are all guys you want on the PP.

 

[AreBe]

Gotta' figure we run two balanced PPs again. Matthews, Tavares, Nylander, Marner, Spezza, Thornton, Simmonds are all guys you want on the PP.

YES: Matthewes, Nylander, Marner, Tavares. Spezza
NO: Team pylon and team penalty box sitters: Thorton, Simmonds.
We do not need to kill our powerplay by taking penalties, especially in the playoffs when the game is called differently and Canadian teams cannot interfere , hook, or crosscheck

 

[NJG]

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.

People were saying to dump Kerfoot before Thornton got here, so what are you talking about?

We need cap space.... so yeah Kerfoot is the one that has to go he's a 3.5M player that doesn't play or justify the 3.5M. So why would we not move him?

 

[Al14]

Well, I hope this signing works.

I'd hate to think we're back to being a country club, where hasbins come to retire for one last paycheque in their hometown.

The Spezza signing I was all in on, Jumbo Joe, not so much.!!!.

 

[Bluelines]

This has shades of the Lindros signing all over again?

 

[Eternal Leaf]

This has shades of the Lindros signing all over again?

That was different.

Lindros joined a team of aging vets. At least 6-7 guys were older than him with McCabe and Kaberle also in their early 30s.

Thornton is joining a bunch of young guys entering or in their prime.

 

[pylon17]

It's not funny- he is going to be in the box come playoff time because the game is called differently in the playoffs- Americain teams can crosscheck, hook, trip and interfere and Canadian teams cannot.
Joe Thorton will be a liability come playoff time because 1, he is going to be in the box, and 2, he is going to be in the box because he is too slow and so he needs to hook, clutch, and grab, and Canadian teams get called for that in the American Association of United States Ice Hockey Teams

We are eating up President's Choice Memories of When They Were Good, and we fail to get that we are getting Victory Lap Joe Thorton.
But only for a year and for a cheap price- further hallmarks of a victory lap player.

You don't even know how to spell his name.

 

[AreBe]

You don't even know how to spell his name.

Joe Thornton
Future hall of famer.
great player.
Great leadership
In the past

Now a pylon
Joe Thoronton - best damn player this side of the Transjordan who is 41 and washed up and on a low-cost contract and for 1 year- textbook victory lap.
Autocorrect however spells it differently - as it is a ducking piece of shirt.

Let's remember him for what he was 15 years ago, and not the pylon version that Leafs Nation is celebrating about - but it is just for a year.

 

[Mentat]

Joe Thoronton - best damn player this side of the Transjordan who is 41 and washed up and on a low-cost contract and for 1 year- textbook victory lap.
Autocorrect however spells it differently - as it is a ducking piece of shirt.

The salt mines are breaking you.
It´s fine to not like a signing, but this is a whole new level of frustration for little to no reason.

 

[Menzinger]

He averaged 15ish min a night with the Sharks this past season too. He clearly has gas still in the tank

 

[AreBe]

The salt mines are breaking you.
It´s fine to not like a signing, but this is a whole new level of frustration for little to no reason.

Sure- hey it's for a cheap price and for one year- textbook victory lap. No big deal - but it's not like we just signed Joe Thornton, even though we did, because this is not the real Joe Thornton, we need to know that

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Sure- hey it's for a cheap price and for one year- textbook victory lap. No big deal - but it's not like we just signed Joe Thornton, even though we did, because this is not the real Joe Thornton, we need to know that

No one is putting him on the first line.

Even at 41, he's worth more than 700k. The man put up 31 points last season on a bad team. That's great value for the lowest possible contract a team can offer.

 

[Leafsfan74]

This has shades of the Lindros signing all over again?

No even close. Lindros came in at a much younger age, but he had his history of concussions. It was basically a flyer for a team that after Sundin saw a significant drop off in forward scoring. Their D on those teams were far more aggressive and involved.

Leafs have two #1 Centres. They can possibly even put together two #1 lines. These additions are to add vital leadership on the ice and in the locker room. I think we are viewing it too much through the eyes of "oh, these guys are going to be liabilities". They are their to contribute well beyond the on ice results.

 

[hotpaws]

He averaged 15ish min a night with the Sharks this past season too. He clearly has gas still in the tank

will this proves it , 15mins on one of the worst teams in the NHL and 15mins for in a Swiss league game , you got me jacked . lol

love the off season since every move is a stroke of genius , i'm actually starting to hope they cancel the season so i can enjoy this feeling longer and not have reality kick me in the nuts by showing me Bogo/Jumbo/Simmonds/Spezza all won't have huge positive impacts on the team

anyway i like Joe and i hope he does have a little something something left , i just don't see how we can have him and Spezza in the lineup at the same time