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

[TheBeastCoast]

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.

Never realized there was a one leader per dressing room cap. The things you learn around these parts during the off season really is amazing.

 

[Rob Brown]

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.

Yes, because a team with a captain has never acquired any additional veterans or leaders for the room. Never happened.

 

[BLONG7]

Simmonds/Spezza/Thornton............must be all those Cups they have won between them, to get the Leafs room in order.
OK guys...
Good luck!!

 

[Jerkbait]

Goodness what an atrocious bottom 6.

Actually very solid bottom 6. Lots of depth. Experience and toughness. Light years ahead of what they had. They are now better than Boston in thay department

 

[The Podium]

What does the bottom-6 look like?

Honestly no one really knows.

 

[Contenderorpretender]

Besides Toronto not actually owning their own pick, how are they not currently a lottery team?

What? They own their own pick for this year. What are you talking about? Another hot take? Do you follow hockey?

 

[TopCheese]

Robertson-kerfoot-Simmonds
Spezza-Thornton-engvall/vesey/Anderson

the bottom 6 is less skilled and fast than last year, but has more grit and leadership. Will be interesting to see how the contrasting styles affect us in the win/loss columns

 

[BrannigansLaw]

Iginla at least made it to the finals. What’s the furthest big Joe has gone? Choker.

Gee I don't know why don't you look it up instead of just trash talking. Looks like you choked in your haste.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

True.

Yes it is true, you don't know anything about hockey.

 

[BLONG7]

So only cup winners can get a locker room in order? Do you even know hockey? Or do you just like posting stupid shit because your life needs more meaning?

lol
Have a snickers!! lol
You take yourself, way too serious.....

 

[Jayan]

Will Marner call him dad?

Dont piss off Paul

 

[kevsh]

Robertson-kerfoot-Simmonds
Spezza-Thornton-engvall/vesey/Anderson

I don't think that's the plan. Thornton/Spezza together would be the Grey Zamboni line.

Robertson-Thornton-Kerfoot (if he's still a Leaf)
Vesey-Spezza-Simmonds

 

[NyQuil]

I’ve liked some of the Leaf moves this summer but this one is an odd one.

They already have Spezza.

Neither guy is a winger.

Reminds me of when they had the best centres in the league with Sundin, Lindros and Allison.

Just five years too late.

 

[Shanwhatplan]

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.

Although I’m okay for the most part on what Dubas has done so far this off season, I tend to agree with what you’re saying.

With the possible exceptions of Rielly (a veteran who definitely has some voice in the locker room) and Tavares (leads by example), management anointed Matthews and Marner by making them alternates.

Now I have no idea what goes on in the locker room, but it seems to me this “core” has been placed on a pedestal. The leaders are supposed to set the example. I’m hoping that Thornton, Bogosian (especially since he just helped Tampa win the Cup), and Simmonds (maybe Brodie too) will all have a strong voice and influence on the players.

 

[Scoogs]

Reminds me of when they had the best centres in the league with Sundin, Lindros and Allison.

Oof... That was painful to watch. His shootout attempts were like watching him push a tennis ball across a velcro floor.

 

[Beville]

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.

The views of the HF poster are generally correct in that, yeah good team but until they start winning rounds they’re nowhere near a “good chance” at a cup.

 

[LEAFSANDBILLSFAN]

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?

This community isn't dumb it is just immature. Likely a reflection of the majority being on the younger side.

 

[JustaFinnishGuy]

I'm genuinely surprised that Joe Thornton gets 33 pages at this part of his career.
This was a 700k signing people.

 

[ToDavid]

Robertson-kerfoot-Simmonds
Spezza-Thornton-engvall/vesey/Anderson

the bottom 6 is less skilled and fast than last year, but has more grit and leadership. Will be interesting to see how the contrasting styles affect us in the win/loss columns

What I like about that group is the flexibility. You could run different lineups within a single game depending on what you need. It’s got a bit of speed, a bit of scoring, and a bit of physicality that can be spread around the bottom six or loaded onto one line.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Robertson-kerfoot-Simmonds
Spezza-Thornton-engvall/vesey/Anderson

the bottom 6 is less skilled and fast than last year, but has more grit and leadership. Will be interesting to see how the contrasting styles affect us in the win/loss columns

That's grittier than last year's bottom 6? Was last year's bottom 6 literally made of tissue paper?

 

[Metroid]

lol
Have a snickers!! lol
You take yourself, way too serious.....

I've got a drawer full. Actually just opened one up.

 

[dirty stanchion]

24 hours later, and the wound is still raw for some people.

Stay strong, my brothers and sisters.

 

[SotasicA]

So does this mean Engvall is redundant?

I'll take him in Chicago. There's already a pair of Swedes in the bottom six (Janmark/Wallmark). Make a trifecta of mediocre Swedes and make a line of them.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

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.

 

[joe dirte]

That's grittier than last year's bottom 6? Was last year's bottom 6 literally made of tissue paper?

Well yes, they were soft. But thonton and simmonds make any and every lineup tougher. Thornton doesnt play a nasty game but he is tough as nails.