Be sure to like HockeyBuzz on facebook! For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter The Toronto Maple Leafs may find out if their efforts to woo veteran center Joe Thornton to the club are successful, as reports out of Switzerland are indicating that the future Hall of Famer will make a decision about his NHL future soon.
The world needs more Joe Thornton. Especially in 2020. https://t.co/PWCGHNVyac
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 15, 2020
After reports from the Athletic’s James Mirtle, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and the Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun indicated earlier in the week that Leafs GM Kyle Dubas, head coach Sheldon Keefe and some Toronto players had contacted the former #1 overall pick, Thornton has joined Swiss club team HC Davos to get back in playing shape and was quoted by Swiss reporter Kristian Kapp saying that a decision on his NHL future is imminent.
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The Leafs signing of winger Jimmy Vesey represents an opportunity for the 27-year-old to bounce back from his career-low nine-goal campaign with the Buffalo Sabres last season. Vesey signed a one-year, $900,000 deal with Toronto earlier this week and will likely slot in on the third line with former Harvard linemate Alex Kerfoot, hoping to provide some much-needed secondary offense for Toronto after the trades of Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson.
"I didn't get off to the start that I would have liked to on a new team in Buffalo, but talking to (the Leafs) they thought I could add to the team and help (them) get over the hump." Vesey said in a Zoom conference call on Thursday. "For me personally, I'm just gonna come in with a with a hungry mindset. (I) definitely want to get off to a better start than I did last year. I pride myself on scoring goals when the time's right, so hopefully I can come in and help the team with some timely goals (and) secondary scoring when when the top guys are not going."
Vesey relied on Kerfoot’s input when considering the Leafs and his familiarity with him and former Sabres teammates Zach Bogosian and Wayne Simmonds should help in acclimating to a new club.
"I have a lot of familiarity with the guys on the (Leafs), whether it be (Kerfoot), (Bogosian) or (Simmonds), we all played together in Buffalo last season. (Alex) I probably know the best. We went to school three years together and we were linemates for two full seasons." Vesey said. "It was definitely a big help, (I) talked to him through the whole process and it's always great to have a familiar face in the locker room." *******
New Convo on Pod!#LeafsForever #theleafsconvo@MikeInBuffalo @TheLeafsConvo2 @mikenewsom @mapleleafsaggr https://t.co/1jHLy6B3pi
— Norman James (@IamNormanJames) October 15, 2020