Odd signing, 700K is no risk, but also indicative of where Thornton is in his career now at 41. He is going to have to get used to not being as much if he is in a 4th line role. Not as easy for former players that are used to playing higher in the line up as most think.
As for the leadership angle, I think this is being played up. Considering this was what Tavares was brought in for, did he fail? In addition, didn't Thornton have his captaincy taken away from him by the Sharks once? Regardless it is a secondary signing all things considered. Not in the caliber that is going to change the NHL landscape.