Can we expect 1+ PPG from Thornton?

[Coily]

He's on pace for 120 assists, yo.

And 0 goals.

Scott Gomez style.

 

[Mafoofoo]

He's on pace for 120 assists, yo.

And 0 goals.

He didn't get to the 100 assist mark last time. Now he's gunning for it.

 

[JeremyTB]

IMO Joe is still in his prime. He is only 33. Gretzky, Messier, Yzerman etc etc were still in their prime at 35-37.

 

[Negatively Positive]

IMO Joe is still in his prime. He is only 33. Gretzky, Messier, Yzerman etc etc were still in their prime at 35-37.

Old man Jagr put up 54 pts last year at 40. He's a better comparison to Jumbo than the smaller fast old guys like Selanne and Whitney who are somehow putting up ppg still. Best comparison might be Sundin who was still putting up ppg at 36.

 

[Barrie22]

If we start seeing thornton in glasses during interviews then he shouldn't regress that bad. He doesn't rely on speed so that won't hurt his game. He also doesn't use his legs that much to skate, he just gets up to speed and glides every where.

The only thing thornton has to worry about losing is his strength and vision on the ice.

 

[Brent Burns]

Thornton is in absolute beast mode. I think he will get it done on both ends of the ice

 

[Mafoofoo]

If we start seeing thornton in glasses during interviews then he shouldn't regress that bad. He doesn't rely on speed so that won't hurt his game. He also doesn't use his legs that much to skate, he just gets up to speed and glides every where.

The only thing thornton has to worry about losing is his strength and vision on the ice.

What if he starts talking to the press like NBA players do wearing something like this?

 

[Barrie22]

What if he starts talking to the press like NBA players do wearing something like this?

then we can call him a goof ball? oh wait never mind we already do that lol.

 

[Mafoofoo]

then we can call him a goof ball? oh wait never mind we already do that lol.

I dunno I think it'd be pretty hilarious to see him wearing stuff like that while giving his shirtless interviews.

 

[deekortiz3]

I could see him ending the season with 50 points tbh

 

[Pinkfloyd]

If we start seeing thornton in glasses during interviews then he shouldn't regress that bad. He doesn't rely on speed so that won't hurt his game. He also doesn't use his legs that much to skate, he just gets up to speed and glides every where.

The only thing thornton has to worry about losing is his strength and vision on the ice.

Why do people keep perpetuating this myth? Just because you don't rely on speed doesn't mean that losing what you had doesn't have a severe impact. All you need to do is look at Cheechoo. Never relied on speed but what he had that was barely NHL level was taken away with double sports hernia surgery and he never recovered.

The same is happening to Murray. He improved his skating speed on the outset of his current deal and it has slipped slightly in the last year and a half and it has shown that it is a big hindrance to his ability to defend.

The same may eventually happen to Thornton.

 

[Juxtaposer]

I dunno I think it'd be pretty hilarious to see him wearing stuff like that while giving his shirtless interviews.

He hasn't done a single shirtless interview since he became captain.

 

[Barrie22]

Why do people keep perpetuating this myth? Just because you don't rely on speed doesn't mean that losing what you had doesn't have a severe impact. All you need to do is look at Cheechoo. Never relied on speed but what he had that was barely NHL level was taken away with double sports hernia surgery and he never recovered.

The same is happening to Murray. He improved his skating speed on the outset of his current deal and it has slipped slightly in the last year and a half and it has shown that it is a big hindrance to his ability to defend.

The same may eventually happen to Thornton.

because it is not a myth, thornton is not slow to start with. he is pretty quick for his size.

he just slows the game down to a crawl (by his own play style), not because he is slow.

you always bring up players that need a quick step to play the position or the style they played.

cheechoo needed the quick foot work to find the open holes in the slot.

murray needs the quick foot work to step up on oncoming forwards (he no longer has that).

if thornton loses his speed (which he never uses), he will still be playing the game at the same level that he has been his entire career.

thornton if he gets a sports hernia won't be hindered in his speed, but he could be hindered in his lower body strength.

 

[SignThornton]

I don't expect Thornton to keep up with his torrid pace obviously but I think hitting between 50-60 pts is definitely attainable.

 

[Mafoofoo]

He hasn't done a single shirtless interview since he became captain.

I guess he feels captains have to be more dignified than that.

 

[NWShark*]

60 points is certainly possible considering the fast start. The shortened season will likely reduce the mid season lull many players fall into. Basically the playoffs started on opening night. If that's the case and party and joe play hard the whole way I could see 60 for joe and 30 goals for patty. Owen Nolan got 30 in the last short season playing on forsbergs wing.

 

[NWShark*]

Stupid iPhone thumb typing... Gotta love the nick name Party Marleau though!

 

[Pinkfloyd]

because it is not a myth, thornton is not slow to start with. he is pretty quick for his size.

he just slows the game down to a crawl (by his own play style), not because he is slow.

you always bring up players that need a quick step to play the position or the style they played.

cheechoo needed the quick foot work to find the open holes in the slot.

murray needs the quick foot work to step up on oncoming forwards (he no longer has that).

if thornton loses his speed (which he never uses), he will still be playing the game at the same level that he has been his entire career.

thornton if he gets a sports hernia won't be hindered in his speed, but he could be hindered in his lower body strength.

You're simply inaccurate if you believe Thornton doesn't use his speed. His speed is what helps him when he back-checks. Quick first steps help him when he wants to find an open passing lane. His speed is what he has to use to get to loose pucks in the offensive zone when they don't have clean possession. All those things are partially based around speed that you have to have and if you lose it will have a severe impact on your game regardless of who you are.

Just because you won't see Thornton take the puck and skate past someone doesn't mean that he doesn't use his speed and doesn't need it to play his game. Every NHL player needs their speed to play and every NHL player would be hindered if and when they lose a step.