If the rumours out of San Jose are true and the Sharks are going to be trading Joe Thornton, then the Coyotes need to get in on that and fast.

Joe Thornton is not going to be available for long. We are talking about a first ballot Hall of Famer who, despite being 34, does not seem to be on the decline, posting 76 points this past year and playing in the full 82 games. If he is available, there will be a lineup for his services, and I would assume he is moved on or by draft day.

The Coyotes need to do this for a variety of reasons. First, who better to show guys like Max Domi and Boedker how to be a star in this league? Second, who better to take the #1 centre slot until they can develop a star of their own?

Joe Thornton has never been about mobility, he is about great passing and hockey intelligence. While I would be hesitant to acquire a 34 year old in most cases, I don't think age is going to really be a factor for Joe. The main reason players lose their powers as they get older is that they lose speed, but Joe never really had speed, which is probably the reason why whenever he goes in a slump people say he isn't trying.

Ignore those people, and ignore the people who ridiculously claim he isn't a "big-game player." Number 1 centres of this quality are almost never available. If the Coyotes don't go for him, the Leafs, Predators, Red Wings, maybe the Oilers, just about anyone would love to have him, so I believe it is imperative that Maloney make inquiries now.

This is an opportunity to hugely upgrade what might be the worst collection of top six forwards in the NHL. The Coyotes are not going to the playoffs next year if they enter 2014-15 with Vermette as their number one centre, and Erat and Vrbata in their top 6.

Joe Thornton would go a long way in moving everyone down the depth chart, plus, if they do get Joe, then they also move Vermette back to his home on the third line where he will continue to be the best, or at least among the best, third line centres in the NHL.

This is a team starved for offense and Thornton guarantees they will score more. Yes, it's 3 more years at almost 7 Million, but he is worth it. This is one of the best and most underrated players in the NHL. In order to move out Thornton, the Sharks might be willing to take back some salary in addition to picks and defenseman the Coyotes will have to give them, and maybe this is an opportunity to get Ribeiro out of town? Ahhh a guy can dream right?


Anyways, I don't care what it costs, I don't care how they do it, or why, but the Phoenix Coyotes need to bring in Joe Thornton - beyond just the fact that Thornton is an awesome player and a classy, hilarious guy, adding a hall-of-fame talent and the splash that would make would be the perfect thing to build attention and excitement as the team "moves" to Arizona.

(Note: they are not moving, but rather becoming the Arizona Coyotes.)

Anyways, I don't think the cost to acquire him would be all that much due to his age and salary, and I don't think a more talented first line player will be available. If the Coyotes have any hope of being a serious contender, of being a team that competes every year and a team that wants to make up for the constant uncertainty and precarious NHL position they held for much of the past decade, this is a move that would go far in making amends.

Thanks for reading,

Tweets:@james_tanner123

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