Once again, smoke rises around Joe Thornton and the Toronto Maple Leafs after the veteran forward was linked with the squad in the 2017 offseason (when teammate Patrick Marleau signed a three-year contract with Toronto), there was a lingering idea that he might consider returning to Ontario at some point
In a recent Steve Dangle podcast, Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston hinted that the two sides have a mutual interest, and now The Athletic’s James Mirtle has written something similar:
These talks are at the beginning It seems there is mutual interest The Leafs, as they did during free agency in 2017, let Thornton know he was wanted And Thornton is listening , from his offseason home in Switzerland, where he trains with a Premier League club
For a while, it was believed Thornton would take his time with any decisions about his future in the NHL The 2020-21 season is still completely surrounded by uncertainties, with no concrete date for the start of training camp or the regular season.But if the 41-year-old center wants to return, it is no longer a slam dunk that he will return to the San Jose Sharks
While the Sharks have just brought Marleau back to chase the record for games played by Gordie Howe and are obviously still a contender if Thornton returns, the situation is different this summer The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz tweeted as much earlier this month – ci, saying that while it seemed inevitable that Thornton would return to the Sharks when he became a free agent in 2019, he « received no indication that he is safe to return » this time around around
The Maple Leafs have already made sweeping changes to their group of last six forwards for next season, eliminating Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Johnsson and Frederik Gauthier, while bringing in Wayne Simmonds, Jimmy Vesey, Joey Anderson and Travis Boyd They currently still have Alexander Kerfoot in pencil in the third-line center role, but the squad are barely under the ceiling and might need to make some extra moves if they consider further free agent upgrades
Thornton, meanwhile, has just had his worst season in two decades The Sharks legend has scored just seven goals and 31 points in 2019-20, his lowest total since that 1997-98 rookie season. was frustrated when the Sharks failed to place him among the deadline contenders, telling reporters « it would have been nice to have at least a shot » at the Stanley Cup, a prize that eluded him for 22 years career
Both Mirtle and Johnston have made it clear that things are very preliminary between the Maple Leafs and Thornton, to the point that it may just be expressed interest, not even negotiations. But the two sides have certainly flirted before
He should be wearing blue and white! He will bring experience and size! It’s certain!
Who cares as long as he can beat the puck, has speed ever really been a jumbos game?
That way when they realize they overpaid him (not to say he can’t be of use at all, they just signed Spezza to do the same correctly), they have to tie him up a draft pick to get rid of him the ineptitude of the brass leaves
that’s a lot of hate the leaves don’t make Marleau’s mistake if Joe signs it, it’s probably for a million or less on a one year contract
Thornton will one day be in the Hall of Fame, but I’d rather have Mark Jankowski today
Joe Thornton
World News – CA – Joe Thornton linked to Toronto Maple Leafs
