Toronto Maple Leafs: Why Thornton Isn’t a Good Fit
Joe Thornton is a pending UFA and it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that he could sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 20-year veteran signed a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks last season and after being defeated by the Vegas Golden Knights this postseason, he might be looking for some new scenery.
Jumbo Joe is a player that most teams would love to have on their roster. He is a big strong centreman that racks up some good points and that beard, damn. How do you say no to that beard? He is almost hitting his forties, but sometimes you don’t even notice his age with his great play. He’s a guaranteed Hall of Famer and one of the best players of all-time.
And surely he’d love to be reunited with his old partner in crime Patrick Marleau.
Well lately he’s been playing more like his 38-year-old self. The past two seasons he scored 20 goals in total, much less than what you’re used to by the big centreman. This past season was trimmed down due to injury, but even the season before he was reduced to only 7 goals. He can still rack up assists notching 43 that year, but it isn’t worth the gamble.
Not Worth the Money
With Thornton finishing an $8 million one-year contract, I just don’t see him fitting in with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team is already paying his long-time teammate Patrick Marleau over $6 million a season to play on the second/third line. Bringing in Joe Thornton would make things difficult salary cap wise and would take away a young player’s opportunity to make an impact on the team. He is long past his prime so bringing him on this young team would just be a short contract for leadership and a playoff edge.
Younger Players Should be Given the Chance
A player that is approaching 40 next year is not worth signing for a lot of money. It is very unlikely his $8 million goes down to a $3 or $4 million. The Leafs can’t afford a forward that expensive with no rising potential. They have great players on the Toronto Marlies that need the NHL experience to improve their game and become better players. Players like Carl Grundstrom and Miro Aaltonen can make an impact on this young team. I’m afraid that signing Joe Thornton not only prevents that, but also fuels salary cap issues as well.
Next: Should the Leafs Re-Sign Plakanec
In conclusion, Jumbo Joe is not a good fit for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Even though he still has some gas left in the tank, Toronto isn’t the right place for him to continue his career. As fun as it would be to get him, I think the Leafs are going to have to pass.
stats from hockey-reference.com, capfriendly.com