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Toronto Maple Leafs: Top Playoff “X-Factor” Candidates for Next Season

By Rossy Pasternak

Feb 20, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman (11) and Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) celebrate a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman (11) and Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) celebrate a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 8, 2020; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton (19) warms up before the game against the Colorado Avalanche at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2020; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton (19) warms up before the game against the Colorado Avalanche at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /

Joe Thornton

Looking to add another veteran presence to the locker room, GM Kyle Dubas added Joe Thornton on a cheap 1-year deal. Can he be the difference come playoff time?

With the 7th most assists (1,089) in NHL history (via ESPN), Joe Thornton is inarguably one of the best passers of his generation. While his skating has declined, and he has never been an elite goal-scorer, hockey IQ is a skill that does not age, and Thornton has plenty.

As I’ve covered in previous articles, Thornton is going to be a huge asset to the Toronto Maple Leafs power play and their bottom six, wherever he ends up playing. While at this stage in his career Thornton isn’t nearly the difference maker he once was, but he still adds another dimension to the Leafs attack that teams have to game plan for.

There are still many questions about how Thornton will be used with the Leafs. While he has sometimes played the wing in the last few seasons with the Sharks, it is still unclear whether he will be willing to do so more often with the Leafs.

If he is willing to move to the wing, even just for the playoffs, Thornton’s smarts and passing could be used to set up open shots for one of the Leafs’ big guns –  a rare occurrence against the Blue Jackets in the playoffs last season.

It will take a lot of creativity and line juggling for Sheldon Keefe to keep him involved enough in the game to make a big difference, but if managed right Thornton could be an essential piece to the puzzle for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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