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

[hotpaws]

lindros was actually fantastic for us. He just got hurt.

he was like ppg

he had 22 pts in 33 games , not bad but no where close to ppg

 

[Cleetus]

man Joe Thornton would be awesome to have some dinner, and a few drinks with, would be the best thing ever....

 

[Legion34]

he had 22 pts in 33 games , not bad but no where close to ppg

yes it was his last year in NY where he had 32 in 37.

He was good for Toronto. Just a bandaid

 

[Notsince67]

so your point is unless i blindly support every move the team makes i'm not a fan ?

i'm guessing you enjoy watching Maricin get into the lineup every year for unknown reasons

No and you have a right to be critical but you do seem to be pretty negative of everyone. Maybe im wrong

 

[hotpaws]

No and you have a right to be critical but you do seem to be pretty negative of everyone. Maybe im wrong

check to see if i'm negative on Keefe/AM/MM/WN/MR/FA among others

the problem is i don't toe the HF company line which currently means kissing the Dube's ass while blaming all the failures on Lou/Babs/Andy and Marner's greed/dad

 

[shortfuze]

maybe you don't but some of us get a little tired of reading how every move the team does in the off season is phenomenal

at the trade deadline it was "Bogo/Simmonds" are useless and washed up and now it's "ya baby , can't believe how we got these 2 guys for so little , no one's going to mess with us now"

but like i said it's the off season when hope springs eternal and hopefully the team performs better since i don't find the constantly regurgitated ''patience'' thread after another failed season entertaining

Has anyone really said that? It seems most people are ok with the signings. Simmonds brings some toughness and maybe 15 goals and Bogosian is a bottom pairing defenceman. Sounds like that’s what everyone has them as.

 

[Duffman955]

We got some big boys this season

Thornton
Simmonds
Bogosian
Vesey

 

[Bluelines]

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.

I mean in the sense two big HOF centers come home to Toronto to paly out their final year.

 

[Gallagbi]

No and you have a right to be critical but you do seem to be pretty negative of everyone. Maybe im wrong

You're not

 

[hotpaws]

Has anyone really said that? It seems most people are ok with the signings. Simmonds brings some toughness and maybe 15 goals and Bogosian is a bottom pairing defenceman. Sounds like that’s what everyone has them as.

we need a prime aged Simmonds/Bogo not shells of themselves who we really have no idea what they'll bring

at the draft it's we'll draft skilled small/smallish players because there easier to find and then trade them for grittier/tougher somewhat skilled bigger players , now i'm left reading about how we're pinning our hopes on guys we're hoping aren't completely cooked

outside of Brodie , i like the Thornton signing best because unlike Spezza/Tavares I believe he has a presence about him that the younger players will respect

 

[saffronleaf]

We got some big boys this season

Thornton
Simmonds
Bogosian
Vesey

I've heard Vesey doesn't really use his size much at all. And Bogosian often takes himself out of the play trying to go for hits.

I think the Leafs / Dubas have had a good offseason so far. But I'm trying to keep expectations realistic, because many of these players have their own issues (advanced age, many injuries, soft, bad decision-making, etc.). With so many players signed, I'm hoping some of them meet the challenge. The odds are better with more of them.

 

[Notsince67]

check to see if i'm negative on Keefe/AM/MM/WN/MR/FA among others

the problem is i don't toe the HF company line which currently means kissing the Dube's ass while blaming all the failures on Lou/Babs/Andy and Marner's greed/dad

Hey...im not exactly a club member around here. I cut my own path. Usually the correct one 99% of the time I might add

 

[ManosArriba]

Dubas is making sure any up and coming talent will avoid Toronto from now on. This team is slowly becoming the big 4 plus a revolving door of has-been over the hill vets team. When Reilly resigns to cement the Muskoka 5 2.0 it will get even worse.

 

[Stephen]

maybe you don't but some of us get a little tired of reading how every move the team does in the off season is phenomenal

at the trade deadline it was "Bogo/Simmonds" are useless and washed up and now it's "ya baby , can't believe how we got these 2 guys for so little , no one's going to mess with us now"

but like i said it's the off season when hope springs eternal and hopefully the team performs better since i don't find the constantly regurgitated ''patience'' thread after another failed season entertaining

One aspect about Simmonds being a bad acquisition at the deadline was the fact that he came with a $5 million cap hit or whatever the pro rated would be. So when you cut that down to $1.5 million, it becomes a better add.

I thought Bogosian was completely fried when Buffalo terminated his contract, but with the break and his surprisingly solid run with Tampa, if he can give us that exact same level of play, we are in business.

So then vs now has a number of factors like cap hit and recent performance that would make them good additions.

 

[Stephen]

Dubas is making sure any up and coming talent will avoid Toronto from now on. This team is slowly becoming the big 4 plus a revolving door of has-been over the hill vets team. When Reilly resigns to cement the Muskoka 5 2.0 it will get even worse.

If players like Ryan Getzlaf and Eric Staal want to come here at 1 year $1 million deals next season, I don't mind spinning that revolving door for as long as it takes.

 

[pspot]

Dubas is making sure any up and coming talent will avoid Toronto from now on. This team is slowly becoming the big 4 plus a revolving door of has-been over the hill vets team. When Reilly resigns to cement the Muskoka 5 2.0 it will get even worse.

Imagine being Robertson. Getting to be on a line with Joe Thornton. Sitting on the bench with him as he talks about what is happening.

 

[Gabriel426]

Oops there it is!!!!!

 

[Gabriel426]

Just realized all the new UFA signings beside TJ are all over 6’ft and 200 pounds.

 

[Phatic]

So does this feel like the 90s Leafs to anyone? Have a decent core and grab a bunch of vets to fill in the gaps.

 

[Maple Leaf]

So does this feel like the 90s Leafs to anyone? Have a decent core and grab a bunch of vets to fill in the gaps.

IT'S HAPPENING

 

[Leafsfan74]

we need a prime aged Simmonds/Bogo not shells of themselves who we really have no idea what they'll bring

at the draft it's we'll draft skilled small/smallish players because there easier to find and then trade them for grittier/tougher somewhat skilled bigger players , now i'm left reading about how we're pinning our hopes on guys we're hoping aren't completely cooked

outside of Brodie , i like the Thornton signing best because unlike Spezza/Tavares I believe he has a presence about him that the younger players will respect

I understand your position, I understand the concerns. It comes down to this, "big contracts for a small number of players have consequences".

If Leafs had $4M more per year to spend, they'd be able to pick up a Brodie and another major player in their prime. They simply don't and they need to fill in a lineup card every game, hopefully with players who have some NHL experience.

Thus, they are looking for bargains to not only change the culture in the dressing room, but also bring some size and passion to the ice. We have plenty of depth now, a function of bargains due to the pandemic.

Most of their key pick ups are from Ontario, Bogosian the exception, but he played in the OHL, so he knows how much this franchise means to the hockey world. When Tavares was signed, he had a career high in goals his first year at 47, by far his best year. He felt the pride of wearing the Blue and White.

Even as a lifelong fan by circumstance and geography, I find it somewhat silly, I'm rational enough to understand it, but, it's ingrained in many of us from the time we played road hockey or watched it on TV with our dads. Nothing wrong with a little nostalgia.

What will this team get from this collection of guys for the year? Impossible to quantify, but a new team, Original Six franchise and a chance at helping this team make some noise? I expect full value.

 

[justashadowof]

lindros was actually fantastic for us. He just got hurt.

he was like ppg

He started out fantastic then aggravated a chronic wrist injury and played with a messed up wrist the rest of the season when he could.
Looked it up: 8 goals 3 assists in his 1st 10 games as a Leaf. I remember it well. He wasn't just scoring, he was physically dominant and still skating well. It's a crying shame how his career got cut short.

Plus that team had Jason Allison who was a wonder of the world. Incredibly slow but so strong and great at protecting the puck he could hold off any attempts to strip the puck. The only player better at playing keep away with the puck I've witnessed is future hall of famer Jaromir Jagr. And of course both Spezza and Thornton are pretty good at playing keep away with the puck themselves.

 

[Leafsfan74]

So does this feel like the 90s Leafs to anyone? Have a decent core and grab a bunch of vets to fill in the gaps.

No. No Leaf team in my lifetime has had this much high level young talent to really compare. When those teams picked up vets it was for key roles and they were already seasoned. These vets are to bring intangibles, depth and a change in mindset about sacrifice.

The key personnel is already in place. They have depth and a little more bite now. There will be competition for jobs.

I do think the signing of Bogosian and Brodie will make the biggest difference on the scoreboard though. We may surprise a few teams who find it a bit tougher to break through the D.

 

[AreBe]

we need a prime aged Simmonds/Bogo not shells of themselves who we really have no idea what they'll bring

at the draft it's we'll draft skilled small/smallish players because there easier to find and then trade them for grittier/tougher somewhat skilled bigger players , now i'm left reading about how we're pinning our hopes on guys we're hoping aren't completely cooked

outside of Brodie , i like the Thornton signing best because unlike Spezza/Tavares I believe he has a presence about him that the younger players will respect

President's Choice Memories of When They Were Good. http://data:image/png;base64,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

 

[Doanator]

Hopefully it is cheap and works. Guy is slow and old. Past his prime and outside of leadership he doesnt bring a lot to the team. Would rather have a young player with a future get a chance.

Merchandising alone will bring the 700k back, easily. Haha smart move