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

[Golden_Jet]

It's going to take a while to process this move. So strange to think about Jumbo in a Leafs jersey. I kind of love it, but it's still strange.

I was against the idea when it was just a rumour. But mostly that's just because I think we already have Spezza doing the same job. I figured signing Joe would be a bit insulting to Spezza.

But apparently they talked to eachother about it, and who would wear #19. If they can co-exist, nd Keefe can find a role for both of them, then this is going to be a great move.

Jason Spezza and Joe Thornton are Leafs. And all for under 1.5 million combined. Can't complain at all. I wouldn't care if they were in their 50s. "Old man strength" is a thing.

They talked about it, Spezza offered #19, Joe declined, Since Spezza is also a veteran.

 

[Joey Hoser]

If you think Kerfoot is a 3.5M player you're delusional. Colarado signed him to keep him and overpaid him because they needed the decent players they had and had no better options at the time.

Probably not in this economic climate, but generally speaking, sure he is. Somebody would give you something for Kerfoot at 3.5, for sure.

 

[MarMarSab3]

I know I'm likely out to lunch on this but what about

Thornton Matthews Nylander
Hyman Tavares Marner
Vesey Kerfoot Simmonds

 

[Mickey Marner]

Thornton isn't fast enough to be an F1 on the forecheck.

 

[MarMarSab3]

Thornton isn't fast enough to be an F1 on the forecheck.

Valid point but he has the size and skill to do the down low dirty work

 

[Mickey Marner]

Valid point but he has the size and skill to do the down low dirty work

Him and Matthews on the cycle is intriguing, but Matthews would have to be the primary forechecker, with Nylander playing high.

 

[frizzer1]

Once upon a time the leafs brought in Brian Leetch,Ron Francis, and Callie Johansson, to help them in the playoffs.
All were great players past their prime.
They didn’t help at all.

 

[al secord]

Once upon a time the leafs brought in Brian Leetch,Ron Francis, and Callie Johansson, to help them in the playoffs.
All were great players past their prime.
They didn’t help at all.

If only they had Matthews, Tavares, Marner, Nylander, Rielly, Muzzin, Andersen to play the significant minutes.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Joe Thornton joins Tim and Sid and talks about signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, why he decided to join the team and much more.

 

[Notsince67]

If you think Kerfoot is a 3.5M player you're delusional. Colarado signed him to keep him and overpaid him because they needed the decent players they had and had no better options at the time.

So before you continue along this dumb track, let me tell you that Kerfoot almost places top 100 in the league for forwards as measured by goals above replacement. That is in the top tier of second liners. This is while playing with lower tier QoT for most of the year. I put him ahead of Johnsson and Kappy.

 

[Clark4Ever]

If you think Kerfoot is a 3.5M player you're delusional. Colarado signed him to keep him and overpaid him because they needed the decent players they had and had no better options at the time.

At the time that Kerfoot signed a contract extension, it was a very reasonable deal for the team.

Sure, if you look at the veteran 3rd line centres currently available in free agency for pennies on the dollar, Kerfoot's AAV seems excessive, but this year is an outlier due to the economic hardship caused by the pandemic.

 

[Menzinger]

I'd imagine Lehtonen gets the nod for QBing PP2... I'd like to see Robertson there if he sticks as well obviously, but if not:

Simmonds net front
Spezza/Thornton on the half wall
Kerfoot in the middle
Lehtonen point

Damn... that's a highly skilled 2nd unit. Not that they'll get much ice time but from a strictly skill POV, that's pretty insane

I wonder if they may opt to split the main one up and go back to running 2 balanced ones, especially with the influx of 2nd tier guys who can be effective on the pp like Thoentin, Simmonds ect

 

[Clark4Ever]

Joe Thornton joins Tim and Sid and talks about signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, why he decided to join the team and much more.

Such a likeable character. I'm really pulling for him to succeed here.

 

[kk87]

I wonder if they may opt to split the main one up and go back to running 2 balanced ones, especially with the influx of 2nd tier guys who can be effective on the pp like Thoentin, Simmonds ect

I still feel like Matthews-Marner-Nylander-Tavares-Rielly is too good to not get 90+ seconds of every power play, but there's no question we could easily put together two really potent units.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

Once upon a time the leafs brought in Brian Leetch,Ron Francis, and Callie Johansson, to help them in the playoffs.
All were great players past their prime.
They didn’t help at all.

That was pre cap. What exactly can you get for 700k these days? Vets or fringe nhlers.

The leafs simply need a few players to sign at around league minimum due to the overpayments. Being what they additionally add in the locker room, using seasoned vets at 700k is probably the better option for now than players that never belonged in the nhl in the first place.

 

[Blanche Blanche]

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.

Applause!!!

 

[Blanche Blanche]

Optimism being what it is and what it can be, I have the feeling that only Chara approaching 42 would be the signing that helps this club. Joe Thornton in this era of hockey might only be able to contribute on the 2nd pp unit. And that's it.

I think this club has missed the opportunity to embrace developmental failure the way many clubs have had to in order to win. I can't for the life of me see how Marleau doesn't make the difference that Thornton does. Marleau in his mid/late 30s could skate and then...he couldn't. I suspect were of the same vintage, so we remember what Patrick Marleau and skating held in connection with one another and what Joe Thornton and skating have always held equally. Where Thornton was in his prime as a skater might be where Marleau is in his twilight. And now we signed Thornton at age 41 playing toward forty-two years of age next July.

Im usually a pretty half-glass full fan, but...I'm missing it here.

Babcock was icing Marleau every game and benching Matthews.

Babcock scratches Spezza happily.

Keefe played Spezza favorably and that old vet single handedly won us a playoff game vs the Jackets.

 

[ryno23]

 

[ryno23]

 

[A1LeafNation]

More like Sandin

 

[shaner82]

Once upon a time the leafs brought in Brian Leetch,Ron Francis, and Callie Johansson, to help them in the playoffs.
All were great players past their prime.
They didn’t help at all.

If you don't think Leetch helped the Leafs once upon a time, you weren't watching the games. Leetch was great for the Leafs. Just because they didn't win a cup doesn't mean he didn't help the team.

 

[qqaz]

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.

Applause!!!

True story. They exist in real life, too. Not just on HF. I have a friend and a workmate that are the same. The claim to be Montreal and Boston fans. But they never talk about their supposed teams. Only the Leafs. Haters, to the core. I could tell you stories.

It's worse here on HF, of course. Some pretend to support Toronto, while only ever being negative. Others claim to support another team, but only come here to insult and tease Leafs fans.

Wish I could block the real life haters as easy as the ones here.

 

[shaner82]

Thornton brings a couple things to the team.

He's loud and demanding in the dressing room. That's a good thing.
Joe still has incredible passing ability. That never fades unlike speed
Yes, Joe is slow, but that's nothing new. He's been playing slow for years. During the playoffs, the pace in the neutral zone gets slowed down due to a more defensive style. A guy like Joe could help us break through that wall with his passing ability. Clearly our speed didn't get the job done this year, not even close.
Joe also allows Kerfoot to play wing, where he is more effective.

There's going to be times where Joe is going to be on the top 2 lines as well. I think you'll see that at times when there's an offensive zone faceoff.

 

[ottomaddox]

Thornton brings a couple things to the team.

He's loud and demanding in the dressing room. That's a good thing.
Joe still has incredible passing ability. That never fades unlike speed
Yes, Joe is slow, but that's nothing new. He's been playing slow for years. During the playoffs, the pace in the neutral zone gets slowed down due to a more defensive style. A guy like Joe could help us break through that wall with his passing ability. Clearly our speed didn't get the job done this year, not even close.
Joe also allows Kerfoot to play wing, where he is more effective.

There's going to be times where Joe is going to be on the top 2 lines as well. I think you'll see that at times when there's an offensive zone faceoff.

I like this. This is my thinking too. I don't see a better C than Thornton on the 3rd line (sorry Kerfoot/Nylander), and I think his passing/size could help on PP1:

Matthews Thornton Tavares
Rielly Marner

could be lethal

 

[ottomaddox]

Boy oh boy. Nylander really needs to shake his reputation.