After 15 seasons wearing the teal in San Jose, Joe Thornton’s quest for the holy grail takes the long time veteran to Toronto next season. The Maple Leafs bring the 41 year old Thornton with his ZZ Top beard to Canada on a one year deal worth $700,000. The 6’4″, 220 lbs former MVP and long time Captain brings over 1,800 games both in regular season and post season under his belt to the leafs. Thornton has tallied up over 1,500 points in his career. Does Joe Thornton even have anything left in the tank to help the Leafs get over the hump?

Joe Thornton made 70 appearances last season for the Sharks which was one of a few bad years in San Jose as an organization. Thornton had his lowest output of his career with only 31 points. You could chalk that up to a bad year team-wise and Covid virus taking away two weeks of regular season. The San Jose Sharks were the handful of teams that did not make the bubble when hockey resumed late in the summer. Thornton was kind of miffed not being traded at the deadline to a contender, so he could use his services to help a team win a cup. This off-season, it was an easy decision to leave his long-time home on the west coast with his one year contract expiring with the Sharks. Due to the state of the team, they are looking to overhaul most of the roster and most likely are going younger.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have assembled some young talent on the top of their lines. This talent has not been able to win a playoff series yet. Maple Leafs were ousted in the play in series versus the Columbus Blue Jackets in the bubble. The Maple Leafs this off season have been making multiple moves bringing in a right winger, Wayne Simmons, defenseman Zach Bogosian, and goalie Aaron Dell. The team signed blue liner T.J Brodie to a multiple year deal. Bringing in the Joe Thornton brings the team a guy with Captain experience. Not to be the Captain, but he can bring his wisdom to the ice on prevailing if the team gets in any sticky situations. Thornton has seen everything and done everything in his long career in the NHL. Thornton is no longer a top line MVP caliber player like in his heyday with the Sharks. Thornton could make the 4th line better. Thornton can be a strong playmaker for a line like that with a good possession driver. Plusm Thornton could mentor some of these young Leafs.

Joe Thornton was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins in 1997. Thornton was traded to San Jose in the 2005-06 season due to both parties not agreeing on a contract extension that strained each other’s relationship. Some say the relationship between the Bruins and Thornton relationship was strained long before contract talks. Joe Thornton would go on to play for the Sharks until 2020. The Sharks made the post-season almost every year, religiously. The Sharks had quick exits that Thornton did not perform to his capable level. Other years, Thornton was totally awesome and the team went deep in the playoffs. In 2016, the Sharks finally made it to the Stanley Cup finals only to lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins. It seems like the further the Sharks would go, it depended on how well Joe Thornton played.

Joe Thornton will forever be a San Jose Shark when he makes it into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Thornton leaves San Jose with the most assists with 745. Plus Thornton averaged the most points per game with 1.01 in Sharks history, a fancy shamancy stat. Thornton has some great accomplishments in his career, which not many have done. Thornton had back to back years with at least 90 assists. Only two greats have done that. When you’re on the list with Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, you know it’s a big deal. Thornton is the only guy in NHL history to win the Art Ross plus the Hart Memorial trophies in one season while switching teams in the 2005-06 season. Plus, the playoff beard is one of the best in the league. You can compare it to Fitz-magic, Ryan Fitzpatrick, on the Miami Dolphins as the best beard in sports. It would be nice to see Joe Thornton win the cup, but with the Leafs maybe not. At least now, he can eat Mr. Sub for lunch as Toronto and Chicago have the best submarine sandwich in their towns. Just comb out the beard so you don’t get crumbs on the ice when you’re done.

• 

•