Confirmed Signing with Link: [TOR] Joe Thornton signs with the Maple Leafs (1 year, $700K)

[lawrence]

I just... I just don’t understand why?

Why would Jumbo go to TML given their record? Is it for a cup? There’s plenty of teams I’d go to before TML. Is there a connection to Ontario, winding down for retirement?

Just seems a really odd signing.

what's happening with Joe is now how the Sedins wanted to retire. Which was on a high note and on their terms.

I think Joe just wants to keep playing he probably doesn't care how he retires, the fact that he got a 700k shows no one in the leauge even wants him. But of course it's the "well it's only 700 k anyways we can always bury him in the minors" type of B.s.

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

Why would Jumbo go to TML given their record? Is it for a cup?

Because when someone is making an actual choice with their real life, and have actual experience in pro hockey, they'll look at reality and know that the Leafs are a young highly skilled team that have a good chance at a cup every year.

Contrast that with an HFBoards poster who is just looking for giggles, they'll ignore mostly everything and just point out that Leafs haven't won a round yet for lulz.

 

[biturbo19]

In other words...Dubas still doesn't understand roster diversification, and doesn't realize that you need guys toward the bottom end of your roster who fill roles and do their best work without the puck. It's the Spezza experiment redux.

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

In other words...Dubas still doesn't understand roster diversification, and doesn't realize that you need guys toward the bottom end of your roster who fill roles and do their best work without the puck. It's the Spezza experiment redux.

spezza worked out quite well

 

[biturbo19]

spezza worked out quite well

He was great once the coaching switch was made. Individually. But the team still didn't work...as a team.

A 3rd/4th line Center who puts up points is great...but it doesn't really mean squat overall if it's just a collection of guys trying to put up points. Someone still has to play the ugly minutes.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

In other words...Dubas still doesn't understand roster diversification, and doesn't realize that you need guys toward the bottom end of your roster who fill roles and do their best work without the puck. It's the Spezza experiment redux.

Id be thrilled if it works out same as the Spezza experiment as you put it. He was one of the top 4th line cs in the league last year...

 

[Pandaman11]

At least they didn't give him 3x6, so that's progress

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

At least they didn't give him 3x6, so that's progress

There's no literal risk.

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

He was great once the coaching switch was made. Individually. But the team still didn't work...as a team.

A 3rd/4th line Center who puts up points is great...but it doesn't really mean squat overall if it's just a collection of guys trying to put up points. Someone still has to play the ugly minutes.

it's not like he was sheltered

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

He was great once the coaching switch was made. Individually. But the team still didn't work...as a team.

A 3rd/4th line Center who puts up points is great...but it doesn't really mean squat overall if it's just a collection of guys trying to put up points. Someone still has to play the ugly minutes.

This is part of why we dumped Johnsson, he ate up too many easy offensive minutes and only scored 40pts with them.

 

[Oddbob]

Are they going for the oldest 4th line ever?

 

[Psych0dad]

Will be weird but should be a good fit

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Are they going for the oldest 4th line ever?

Thornton and Spezza probably rotate in and out of the same position. So no.

 

[Oddbob]

Thornton and Spezza probably rotate in and out of the same position. So no.

I doubt either signed on with the intention to play half a season.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I doubt either signed on with the intention to play half a season.

They are both signed to league min...it is going to be a condensed season and Spezza already rotated last year. If the Leafs want to rotate them then they rotate them lol

 

[glucker]

I could see
The Leafs winning
Five cups in the next five years

It's a wonder why no one ever signs there

I mean, they do sign... so long as Montreal pays them 1M per point, like with Anderson.

 

[Todd Lazarchick]

Goodness what an atrocious bottom 6.

 

[glucker]

I can imagine that, but can you imagine losing an nhl game to a zamboni driver?

Wait, did Ayers score goals and play defense on top of being in net? I must have missed that!

 

[glucker]

Goodness what an atrocious bottom 6.

What does the bottom-6 look like?

 

[FrankMTL]

Spezza and Thornton trying to communicate on the ice:

 

[Scoogs]

I would have hoped more of this community was smart enough to realize that the Leafs didn't necessarily sign him for his on ice abilities as they now are - which is not to say he won't pot a few.... But more for his presence in the room. Both parties have probably come to the understanding of his role.

It seems like the vast majority think you run an actual NHL team like you would in a fantasy league or a video game. The immaturity and lack of that basic understanding is..... Unfortunate.

The overwhelming consensus was that the Leafs core was still too young and immature, so they've addressed that and it's a bad thing?

 

[FrankMTL]

I would have hoped more of this community was smart enough to realize that the Leafs didn't necessarily sign him for his on ice abilities as they now are - which is not to say he won't pot a few.... But more for his presence in the room. Both parties have probably come to the understanding of his role.

It seems like the vast majority think you run an actual NHL team like you would in a fantasy league or a video game. The immaturity and lack of that basic understanding is..... Unfortunate.

The overwhelming consensus was that the Leafs core was still too young and immature, so they've addressed that and it's a bad thing?

Lighten up, most of the posts here are sarcastic and are meant for laughs. Thornton is a great vet.

By the way, do you know if they make "Depends" for hockey players?

 

[BLONG7]

I would have hoped more of this community was smart enough to realize that the Leafs didn't necessarily sign him for his on ice abilities as they now are - which is not to say he won't pot a few.... But more for his presence in the room. Both parties have probably come to the understanding of his role.

It seems like the vast majority think you run an actual NHL team like you would in a fantasy league or a video game. The immaturity and lack of that basic understanding is..... Unfortunate.

The overwhelming consensus was that the Leafs core was still too young and immature, so they've addressed that and it's a bad thing?

Shouldn't a vet type captain in Taveres been able to address issues in the room?
40M in 4 forwards, that's the real issue here. Thornton will have no answers for that.

 

[Peasy]

I would have hoped more of this community was smart enough to realize that the Leafs didn't necessarily sign him for his on ice abilities as they now are - which is not to say he won't pot a few.... But more for his presence in the room. Both parties have probably come to the understanding of his role.

It seems like the vast majority think you run an actual NHL team like you would in a fantasy league or a video game. The immaturity and lack of that basic understanding is..... Unfortunate.

The overwhelming consensus was that the Leafs core was still too young and immature, so they've addressed that and it's a bad thing?

It's okay. If he signed for any other team the comments in the thread would be the exact opposite of what's going on in here. It would be praised and people would be wishing Thornton to have success.

It's just HF acting like a bunch of children. Nothing really new.

Hilarious that this thread is already about to have a part 2 though. People hateeee hearing about the leafs, but they love talking about them for some reason.

 

[Scoogs]

Lighten up, most of the posts here are sarcastic and are meant for laughs. Thornton is a great vet.

By the way, do you know if they make "Depends" for hockey players?

Oh I don't mean immature as in jokes - those are actually hilarious. I meant moreso as immature in the basic understanding of how a team is constructed. The memes and jokes are fantastic, and with merit absolutely!