Leafs interested in Joe Thornton

[ThomasTomasz]

t's not even truly the offseason yet, but rumors are flying around about various players already and it's all starting to intensify. A lot of the rumors surround what is going to be happening with the San Jose Sharks. With general manager Doug Wilson and head coach Todd McLellan remaining in their jobs, a roster shakeup appears imminent.

That could leave stars Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, each of whom signed extensions last season, in limbo. They are going to be highly-valuable trade chips for the club, should it choose to really restructrue. Both, however, have no-movement clauses in their new contracts, so they would have to sign off on any deals.

So how would Thornton feel about moving to his home province of Ontario and play for the Toronto Maple Leafs? According to Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun, the Leafs are one of six temas interested in Jumbo Joe currently. Thornton has a lot of power with that no-move clause making the circle of teams he'd likely accept a trade to rather small, probably.

For the Maple Leafs, Thronton would be the No. 1 center they lack currently. Even though Tyler Bozak carries that designation currently, could you imagine one of the greatest playmakers of all time setting up Phil Kessel, one of the league's hottest goal scorers of the last five years?

Thornton is 35 years old and would likely come at an extreme cost to any team hoping to acquire him, so the market could be limited, but it could be an aggressive quest to acquire a big difference maker of his ilk.

The former No. 1 overall pick had 76 points last season, including 65 assists. There's plenty left in the tank, as well as a three-year deal starting next season at a cap hit of $6.75 million per season.

Thornton has been labeled as a playoff choker due to the lack of success the Sharks have had in the postseason. That's always felt a bit unfair considering he has 100 points in 132 playoff games, but that stigma apparently is there. That really shouldn't scare teams away though. There's too many positives in Thornton's game to let that be a detractor, if it's even a real thing. Marian Hossa was a playoff choker until he wasn't, and a number of other players can say the same.

The big question for any team, including Toronto, is what will it take to pry him away from San Jose? The Maple Leafs have some younger players that could be attractive to the Sharks including center Nazem Kadri and defenseman Jake Gardiner. Their names seem to pop up most when Leafs are mentioned in trade rumors and reports.

Any team that goes after Thornton will have to be careful, as giving up on some promising prospects could be a dangerous practice, especially considering Thornton is unlikely to be a long-term solution for any team as he continues to age. But for teams in contention for the Stanley Cup, grabbing one of the most productive players of his era who still can light up scoreboards, is a rather enticing option.

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on...maple-leafs-interested-in-sharks-joe-thornton

Have to laugh at this. There is no issue if the Leafs want to make a trade to shore up their roster, but a 35 year old Thornton isn't the way to go about that.

 

[dave]

The only reason I do this is if I'm the Leafs is if they can get him at a serious bargain. No chance in hell I mortgage anything to get Thornton.
Too old, wants to play out of the spotlight, and has done nothing in the playoffs ... hardly a guy I'm mortgaging future or current pieces for.
If the Sharks are interested in Thornton for Phaneuf and a couple of minor pieces, I do that deal in one second.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

I think Phaneuf has more value to the Leafs than Thornton does, even at his cap hit. 100 points in 132 playoff games is nothing to laugh at, and I think that, while players get hot in the playoffs, the NHL is still a team sport. The Sharks have always had the high end talent, but have lacked the pieces to a team to the point where I can't fault Thornton 100%. The numbers are there, it's not like he regresses and doesn't perform in the playoffs.

 

[dave]

I think Phaneuf has more value to the Leafs than Thornton does, even at his cap hit. 100 points in 132 playoff games is nothing to laugh at, and I think that, while players get hot in the playoffs, the NHL is still a team sport. The Sharks have always had the high end talent, but have lacked the pieces to a team to the point where I can't fault Thornton 100%. The numbers are there, it's not like he regresses and doesn't perform in the playoffs.

I don't necessarily dislike Thornton, but I just find him one of those guys who never really gets it done in crunch time. Heck, the Bruins won Stanley Cups after trading away their alleged franchise player.
But, again, I'd take his cap hit and years left on that deal over Phaneuf.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

I don't necessarily dislike Thornton, but I just find him one of those guys who never really gets it done in crunch time. Heck, the Bruins won Stanley Cups after trading away their alleged franchise player.
But, again, I'd take his cap hit and years left on that deal over Phaneuf.

See, I would rather have Phaneuf, but that's because Washington needs that physical player on the blue line. After seeing your Habs spend a lot of money on forwards who have been less than advertised, I am not surprised you would want Thornton. Even when our teams aren't involved we still have our biases it seems.

 

[dave]

See, I would rather have Phaneuf, but that's because Washington needs that physical player on the blue line. After seeing your Habs spend a lot of money on forwards who have been less than advertised, I am not surprised you would want Thornton. Even when our teams aren't involved we still have our biases it seems.

I am thinking purely in cap terms. Thornton's contract is done way before Phaneuf's. I absolutely agree a franchise D is more important than a franchise C (in most cases), but Phaneuf is not a franchise D and Thornton is not a franchise C.

 

[leaffan]

Seen this a few days ago and I honestly just dread it. Only because I have no confidence in the front office doing anything right here. Players like Gardiner and Kadri have been thrown out as possible names and I'm just shaking my head because that is the wrong thing to do.

Phaneuf for Thornton I simply wouldn't do. The defense is leaky as is and throwing away their top defensemen isn't worth it.

What I would love to see is a package of Bozak, prospect and 2nd (at most) round pick but that ain't going to happen.

Getting Thornton is something I think they should do although I'm leaning more towards Spezza to shore up the first line. The leafs are entering the years where they need to start competing in the playoffs soon and they have the pieces in place to do it.

 

[leaffan]

To add onto this I think this offseason there's going to be some serious moving around. It was said that pretty much the entire organization was on the trade block outside of 4 guys (Kessel, Bernier, Reilly and sadly Bozak). The farm system for the leafs has been strong for the past 3 years (2 conference final appearances and a calder cup appearance) and that was with all younger players so the talent is there in the system.

The dumb front office moves have crippled the team though. Clarksons contract is going to be a boat anchor for at least another 3 years and trading for Bolland is going to look really bad when he either doesn't resign or signs a stupid contract. I really wish Reimer wasn't going to be traded away because the 1/2 punch of Bernier/Reimer for another few years would of been incredible.

The bad thing with the leafs is basically the fact that the team is being dictated by the media and fans instead of smart front office people who make proper moves and don't bow under the pressure. When I hear morons say things like "phaneuf has to go", "strip phaneuf of the C" "He's worth too much", "Reimers garbage trade him away", "oh look our prospects are winning awards lets trade them away" and blah blah blah I just want to shoot myself in the head sometimes because I get the impression people don't watch the games and just base opinions off of other retards or the silly media that's in Toronto.

 

[Tailback U]

Thornton is still one of the best players on the sharks and I rarely buy into the media/fans "playoff choker" labels when it comes to hockey, especially with his numbers and the effort I've seen him put in huge games since he's been in SJ.

The question isn't about Thornton, it's about if they over pay for him. He will make them a lot better on the top 2 lines and Pp but depth wins in the playoffs.

 

[leaffan]

Thornton is still one of the best players on the sharks and I rarely buy into the media/fans "playoff choker" labels when it comes to hockey, especially with his numbers and the effort I've seen him put in huge games since he's been in SJ.

The question isn't about Thornton, it's about if they over pay for him. He will make them a lot better on the top 2 lines and Pp but depth wins in the playoffs.

The playoff choker mentality is pretty retarded. Over paying for him is really something that shouldn't be brought up. He's still got 3 years to go on his contract. His market value is pretty good at under 7mil its basically what can the sharks get back for him if they do trade him. He's still arguably one of the best playmakers in the game.

 

[leaffan]

One other real problem to his Thorntons NTC and the fact that he's been rumoured to say that he's happy playing in San Jose. Articles like this pop up:

http://www.thescore.com/news/517450

and it really sounds like he just won't move for anyone. I don't honestly see why he of all people would want to move to Toronto anyways when its hockey 24/7 up here and can be beyond annoying to some players.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

One other real problem to his Thorntons NTC and the fact that he's been rumoured to say that he's happy playing in San Jose. Articles like this pop up:

http://www.thescore.com/news/517450

and it really sounds like he just won't move for anyone. I don't honestly see why he of all people would want to move to Toronto anyways when its hockey 24/7 up here and can be beyond annoying to some players.

Can't believe his brother would come out and make that dumb of a statement. He just gave the fan base a free pass to shit on Thornton to get him to change his mind, if they chose to do so.

 

[leaffan]

Can't believe his brother would come out and make that dumb of a statement. He just gave the fan base a free pass to shit on Thornton to get him to change his mind, if they chose to do so.

I really hope fans aren't that stupid though. I remember reading an article about how people think its Pavelski and Couture time in San Jose and at the end of the article the guy writing it said that as a fan of a western conference team I would love to see Thornton gone from this conference.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Seems like Dan Boyle has interest in coming to Toronto, but that doesn't seem to be a long-term solution or a fit for the roster from what I see.

 

[1ke]

Seems like everyone is. Rumors were Chicago interested as well.

 

[leaffan]

Seems like Dan Boyle has interest in coming to Toronto, but that doesn't seem to be a long-term solution or a fit for the roster from what I see.

This fuckin team would show interest in him. Not like they didn't trade away a veteran puck moving defensemen for a pylon already. They might as well give him a 5mil contract to boot.

 

[Tailback U]

Most fans in SJ love Thornton. If anyone would be the scapegoat, it would be Marleau, and fans have smartened up and come around to liking him as well.

Everyone around the league was bashing the Sharks for choking against LA and idiots start talking about "blowing the team up" every season but I really liked the Sharks roster from top to bottom this year. The players were/are not the problem.

They need a couple of younger and better DMen but they have the roster in place for the most part.

MacLellan on the other hand wwas superbly outcoached by Sutter and really seems to fuck up on adjustments in the playoffs.

Boyle can kick rocks...he can still play and move the puck but he's worn down and he makes too many boneheaded mistakes these days. Though I could see him going to a place like Detroit or Chicago and doing well with the right linemates.

 

[leaffan]

Boyle will sign with the flyers or the Bruins. Just watch.