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2021 Toronto Maple Leafs Regular Season Forward Grades

By James Tanner

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 29: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs gets set to jump onto the ice against the Edmonton Oilers during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on March 29, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Oilers defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 29: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs gets set to jump onto the ice against the Edmonton Oilers during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on March 29, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Oilers defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – APRIL 13: Joe Thornton #97 of the Toronto Maple Leafs  The Flames defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 13: Joe Thornton #97 of the Toronto Maple Leafs  The Flames defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Joe Thornton

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed Joe Thornton, then put him on the first line.  I thought this was crazy, and possibly even pretty dumb, but when the stats were off-the charts, I came around. Maybe Joe would be a great LW on the top line and free up Hyman to be used elsewhere.

It was a good idea, but it didn’t work because Thornton cannot produce anymore.  He had ten points in ten games to kick off the year, then was completely useless the rest of the way,  getting ten points in his final 35 games.

Despite getting the sixth most minutes on the Toronto Maple Leafs power-play this season, Thornton only produced 5 PP points.  Out of all the players who received similar PP time this year, Joe Thornton ranks 145th in the NHL in points per minute on the power-play.  Considering the other players on the Leafs PP, Thornton should have scored more often just by accident.

Anyways, it was a nice thought to bring the universally beloved NHL legend into try and win a Stanley Cup, but it didn’t work out.  By going overboard in the direction of veteran leadership, the Leafs all but shut out any hungry, high-upside prospects from contributing this year, and that was a mistake.

We love you Joe, but like Patrick Marleau before you, it’s just not gonna work here.

C-. . C/LW. . JOE THONRTON

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