Thornton Watch

[herman]

Might as well, since Mirtle, Johnston, LeBrun, and Friedman have all mentioned the possibility and mutual interest of Joe Thornton finally landing in Toronto.
https://twitter.com/PierreVLeBrun/status/1316400819676368896
https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1232733372813889544
https://twitter.com/Steve_Dangle/status/1316152194643759105

https://twitter.com/Sz1909_Szemberg/status/1316702870608240640
Meanwhile, he will be hitting the ice for Davos

[herman]

https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1222609827601379328

I'm not sure the world is ready for what will happen when Thornton helps Nick Robertson put up a 4-goal game.

[Nik]

I'm very doubtful we see Thornton in any other NHL uniform but San Jose. He just seems to have entered into the Shane Doan territory of caring more about maintaining what he's got going on lifestyle wise than hockey pursuits.

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm very doubtful we see Thornton in any other NHL uniform but San Jose. He just seems to have entered into the Shane Doan territory of caring more about maintaining what he's got going on lifestyle wise than hockey pursuits.

I get where you're coming with this but San Jose and Arizona are also very, very different organizations. The Sharks have generally been contenders or contenders-ish during his entire time there. Even the season prior to this one they got to the 3rd round. I think Joe still very much wants to win, and the fact that he expressed how disappointed he was at the deadline when the Sharks couldn't/didn't move him shows that.

Doesn't mean I'd rule a return to the Sharks out there. Maybe he thinks they'll be able to rebound, there's still some good players there.

[Nik]

I get where you're coming with this but San Jose and Arizona are also very, very different organizations. The Sharks have generally been contenders or contenders-ish during his entire time there. Even the season prior to this one they got to the 3rd round. I think Joe still very much wants to win, and the fact that he expressed how disappointed he was at the deadline when the Sharks couldn't/didn't move him shows that.

I don't think for a second Shane Doan ever stopped wanting to win either, he just didn't want to enough to move for it.

[CarltonTheBear]

I don't think for a second Shane Doan ever stopped wanting to win either, he just didn't want to enough to move for it.

Sure, unlike Thornton who has already demonstrated that he is willing to move for it.

[Joe]

Does anyone remember the story of why he wanted out of boston?

[Nik]

Sure, unlike Thornton who has already demonstrated that he is willing to move for it.

Well, what Thornton has demonstrated is that he was willing to spend a couple months in a hotel for it.

edit: And, for what it's worth, only after the Sharks had conclusively established that they had no chance at the playoffs.

[CarltonTheBear]

Does anyone remember the story of why he wanted out of boston?

I don't believe he wanted/asked for a trade.

[Nik]

Yeah, I always thought the Boston trade thing was noteworthy because it basically came out of nowhere which is why just about everyone looked at it and thought that other teams would have given Boston a better deal if they'd had any notion he was on the market.

[Zee]

This would most likely be Thornton's last kick at the can, if he's realistic does he want to spend it in SJ spinning his wheels or at least go for it one last time with the Leafs. I get the lifestyle thing and maybe he loves living in SJ, but given that this is already a shortened season, he'll only really be away from SJ what, 5-6 months if that?  Doesn't seem like that big a commitment considering how much money he's already made and the fact he's never won. Sure the Leafs are a longshot too, but probably better chances than SJ.

[Frank E]

Sure, unlike Thornton who has already demonstrated that he is willing to move for it.

Well, what Thornton has demonstrated is that he was willing to spend a couple months in a hotel for it.

edit: And, for what it's worth, only after the Sharks had conclusively established that they had no chance at the playoffs.

He still keeps a place near St. Thomas for his summers.

[Frank E]

Look, they're signing all his buddies:  Dell, now whoever this guy is for the Marlies:

https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2020/10/14/21515936/marlies-sign-rourke-chartier-to-an-ahl-contract

[CarltonTheBear]

Yeah, I always thought the Boston trade thing was noteworthy because it basically came out of nowhere which is why just about everyone looked at it and thought that other teams would have given Boston a better deal if they'd had any notion he was on the market.

Brian Burke swears that he did offer Boston a better deal.

[Nik]

He still keeps a place near St. Thomas for his summers.

Ok. I don't know that has a serious impact on the real effects of either moving by himself or moving his family to Toronto for a year but I'm glad he's got real estate in the portfolio.