Joe Thornton Signs With Toronto, Hopes For 1 more Stanley Cup Run Next Year

By Jordan Long

The Toronto Maple Leafs agreed to a contract with veteran forward Joe Thornton.  The deal is 1-year worth $700,000.  This will be Thornton’s 23rd year.

                Thornton spent the last 15 years in San Jose establishing himself as one of the top Sharks players in their history.  He is third in goals with 251.  Thornton is number 1 all-time in assists with 804. 

Last season Thornton didn’t play that well.  His age was showing.  Thornton couldn’t score or pass to his teammates like he use to.  Thornton scored 7 goals and 24 assists for 31 points,  his lowest since his rookie year in 1998.  That year he appeared in 55 games, scoring 3 goals and 4 assists for 7 points.  The Sharks were the worst team in the Western Conference going 29-36-5 for 63 points.  It was the 1st time in 4 years San Jose failed to qualify for the playoffs.

                Once the year was over,  Thornton knew he wanted to play at least one more year.  The Sharks are rebuilding.  Thornton wants a shot at winning the Cup, the only thing missing in his resume.  San Jose advanced to the Final once in 2016 but lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins.    They aren’t ready to make a Cup run next year and it could be a few seasons before they are ready to.

                Thornton must feel Toronto is in a better position to make the playoffs next year. It is also a chance for him to play for his hometown team.    Toronto has talent on the team including forwards Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Wayne Simmonds, and Jason Spezza who can all score and pass the puck for their teammates to score.  Thornton just adds to that.

                The downside with Toronto is they may not be ready to make a Cup run yet.  They missed the playoffs last year.  Toronto hasn’t advanced past the 1^st-round since 2006.  Toronto made the Stanley Cup Final in 1967 when they won it for the 3^rd time in 4 years. 

                This could be Thornton’s last chance to win a Cup.  If they fail to do so, at the end of next year it might be time for him to call it a career in the NHL.  Once his playing days are over, he will be in enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame as one of the best to play the game.