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Toronto Maple Leafs: Sheldon Keefe’s Best and Worst Decisions

By Wilbert Timmermans

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Sheldon Keefe of the Toronto Maple Leafs looks up from the bench during the first period of the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on November 21, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Sheldon Keefe of the Toronto Maple Leafs looks up from the bench during the first period of the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on November 21, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 13: Joe Thornton #97 of the Toronto Maple Leafs   (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Jordan Maresky

While he was not the Toronto Maple Leafs  most important signing – that distinction goes to TJ Brodie – Joe Thornton was easily the most high-profile signing Kyle Dubas made this offseason. But, as everyone would come to point out, signing Thornton brought on significant risks.

Although it was just a one-year, league-minimum deal and those can never be criticized as a bad deal, the worriment was there if ‘Jumbo’ Joe could even still play. As the game continues to get younger and faster, being on the wrong side of 40 is not an enviable position to be in.

Heck, even being on the wrong side of 30 and you are probably not going to get the payday you thought you might have deserved. But head coach Sheldon Keefe dropped a bomb on the first day of Leafs training camp, telling reporters Thornton would start the season alongside Matthews and Marner.

The move was questioned at first, but before Jumbo went down with an injury, it was hard to argue with the results of the Leafs’ first line. In 50 total 5v5 minutes so far to start the season, the Thornton-Matthews-Marner line has been as good as advertised: Corsi-for – 73% Fenwick-for – 68% Shots-for – 63% Goals-for – 100% Expected goals-for – 74% Scoring chances-for – 79% High-danger chances-for – 100% (stats; naturalstattrick.com).

Although you could say they really only broke through on that second night of their back-to-back against the Ottawa Senators – seven points on the night for the trio – truth be told the Thornton-Matthews-Marner line has dominated the competition in every game so far.

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