In what is expected to be a quite busy trade market this summer, the possibility of San Jose Sharks team captain Joe Thornton being available might just make things more interesting for clubs like the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have been looking for a legitimate front line center since the departure of Mats Sundin six years ago.
Thornton turns 35 in early July and has been in San Jose for nine years. In January, he signed a three-year contract extension to stay in Northern California for the rest of his career, but the historical loss to Los Angeles in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs appears to have finally forced the hand of Sharks GM Doug Wilson to shuffle his roster.
Hockey insider Bob McKenzie indicated on TSN1050 Radio Friday that it is likely that Wilson will explore all possible options to trading Thornton this summer with the intent on forming around a younger leadership group consisting of Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture, instead of stripping the 1997 top overall pick of the captaincy.
This sounds familiar, doesn’t it??
There are stumbling blocks to a potential Thornton trade, including his contractual no-movement clause and finding a team willing to give up assets for a veteran with a $6.75 Million cap hit until 2016-17, but getting a deal done that could benefit the Sharks is not out of the question.
A number of suitors will surely line up for the St. Thomas, ON native and it would not be surprising if the Maple Leafs made inquiries, based on their uncertain status up the middle. There is no guarantee that Thornton would have any interest in being under the intense media scrutiny that goes hand-in-hand with playing in Toronto.
In spite of comments made this week from pending free agent Dave Bolland that he wants to remain in Toronto long term, there has been no movement on a new deal with the two-time Stanley Cup winner. If the two sides remain at an impasse and Bolland departs on July 1, that would leave the Leafs with Tyler Bozak and two young centers in Nazem Kadri and restricted free agent Peter Holland.
San Jose has solid depth at forward and would likely not need one in return in a deal involving Thornton, but may be looking to bolster their blueline with veteran Dan Boyle departing. Would the Sharks have interest in Dion Phaneuf??
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