Ben Shelley: Joe Thornton’s future with Sharks remains unclear

DW getting the country club back together

I wouldn't mind seeing Thornton back in Teal. Not sure how much he would help or hurt the Sharks - if he can put up somewhere around 50 points on the 3rd line, that's actually pretty good.

The question is who would fill the slot if he doesn't return - and would they be a legit improvement....? I kinda have my doubts that either Gambrell or Chmelevski could score more from the third line. Outside of the organization, I'm not sure who's actually attainable.

They already brought back Marleau who will most likely be traded at the deadline for one last shot at a cup, so why bring Thornton in for the exact same scenario? He should take a big pay cut and try and get on Boston for a shot at the cup. Doubt they want him though, but that would be the smart move for him to try and do. And the Sharks should start checking out some of the kids or try and pick up a 3rd line center who isn’t in his 40s.

Maybe Thornton can become the Sharks player coach?

This is the leaf media creating hits for their websites. Their month long Pietrangelo daily articles when in fact the player was never interested has run out so they look for the next best story that they run every off season. Ontario boy comes home to the Leafs. A team he has secretly always wanted to play for. Leaf players have reached out

If the cup is the goal then why jump to non playoff team like Toronto? If he said I want to go to Tampa or Vegas then I'd believe it. The last time the Leafs won a playoff round Joe was still a Bruin.

This is the leaf media creating hits for their websites. Their month long Pietrangelo daily articles when in fact the player was never interested has run out so they look for the next best story that they run every off season. Ontario boy comes home to the Leafs. A team he has secretly always wanted to play for. Leaf players have reached out

If the cup is the goal then why jump to non playoff team like Toronto? If he said I want to go to Tampa or Vegas then I'd believe it. The last time the Leafs won a playoff round Joe was still a Bruin.
- vols94

Damn, you’ve got some pent up frustration, son!

I get it though, if I hated the Leafs and had to read about them every day, I’d be frustrated too. And things aren’t exactly rosy in SJ these days.

You’re wrong about Pietrangelo though. It was widely reported (by credible, unbiased sources) that he liked TO. They simply didn’t have the cap room for him.

The Leaf-haters spewed this same nonsense when Tavares was a free agent. He’ll never go to TO, typical Toronto-obsessed media, blah, blah

You remember Tavares, right? The guy you offered $14M per season?

Maybe Thornton can become the Sharks player coach?

And how would he do line changes, Rotate players when a injury occurs & play the game at the same time ?

Aaaaaaand, he’s a Leaf

LOL

League minimum, so it sounds like they didn’t really need to work very hard to get him either