Thornton gets advice from NFL story Montana earlier than joining Maple Leafs

The Hall of Repute quarterback would possibly per chance perhaps perhaps well uncover to what the 41-three hundred and sixty five days-aged center used to be going thru. Some 27 years earlier, Montana, then 36, used to be traded to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs by the San Francisco 49ers on April 21, 1993, as per his seek records from, after organising a legacy in San Francisco that included 13 seasons and four Finest Bowl titles.

Thornton, like Montana earlier than him, has been a carrying icon within the Bay Assign, playing the past 15 seasons with the San Jose Sharks, except he signed a one-three hundred and sixty five days, $700,000 contract with Toronto.

“Joe gave me some perfect advice,” Thornton acknowledged Sunday. “He perfect talked about leaving San Francisco and going to Kansas Metropolis.

“That dialog intended plenty. I had so many folks I talked to all around the final week. I’m perfect blessed that I had an opportunity to chat to some mountainous of us. However [Montana’s] one guy that supplied me some perfect advice.”

Thornton is looking out for his first championship and acknowledged he believes his most productive chance to build that purpose is with the Maple Leafs.

“I deserve to take a Stanley Cup, and I mediate here is a mountainous personnel that would possibly per chance perhaps perhaps build that,” Thornton acknowledged. “It used to be presumably the toughest hockey dedication I’ve ever had to construct, nonetheless I no doubt judge Toronto, with the roster they have with the fellows they picked up this offseason, I mediate this personnel is able to take now. I’m ready to take.”

Thornton scored 1,055 usual-season good points with the Sharks from 2005-2020, 2d most in Sharks history within the abet of Patrick Marleau‘s 1,102. His 1,104 games are 2d to Marleau’s 1,551, and he leads them in assists (804) and rating (plus-161).

But he restful is lacking that elusive NHL title.

The Sharks obtained stop in 2015-16, reaching the Stanley Cup Perfect earlier than losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games. However final season, San Jose (29-36-4, .450 good points percentage) done final within the Western Conference, lacking the postseason for the 2d time in 16 seasons.

Sharks trendy manager Doug Wilson acknowledged Sunday he tried to alternate Thornton to a contender earlier than the NHL Substitute Time restrict final season nonetheless would possibly per chance perhaps perhaps well no longer secure the best fit. He acknowledged he understands why Thornton views the Maple Leafs as a first payment touchdown space.

“I mediate they’d a smarter three hundred and sixty five days than we did final three hundred and sixty five days,” Wilson acknowledged. “We must reestablish our game and we now have obtained to win our most productive players abet healthy.”

Even though the Maple Leafs have a gifted core with forwards Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitchell Marner, William Nylander, defenseman Morgan Rielly, and goalie Frederik Andersen, they have not won a Stanley Cup Playoff sequence since 2004. Alternatively, Thornton acknowledged he knows the abilities on the Maple Leafs roster and acknowledged he feels he can relieve push them over the scramble.

Video: Joe Thornton joins Toronto Maple Leafs

So does Toronto GM Kyle Dubas, who acknowledged he sees Thornton serving to on the energy play and within the locker room.

In 2017, when Dubas used to be an assistant to then-GM Lou Lamoriello, the Maple Leafs made a indispensable push to keep Thornton, who used to be a free agent nonetheless re-signed with the Sharks.

“I gave it a prolonged, laborious belief,” Thornton acknowledged. “And it perfect didn’t work out abet then. And now I no doubt perfect felt love it used to be a mountainous switch for the family. It be going to be an easy transition for my younger of us, for my wife.

“It perfect no doubt felt just like the best time to construct the switch and I’m perfect trim furious.”

Dubas’ admiration for Thornton dates to rising up in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, when he and his minor hockey league teammates would dash behold the gangly teen play for the Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League from 1995-97. Dubas grew to turn out to be a stick boy with the personnel the next season.

Asked if he remembered Dubas from his junior hockey days, Thornton laughed.

“To be factual, I will be able to no longer endure in mind what took space two weeks ago,” Thornton acknowledged.

Dubas can.

“He used to be perfect a dominant participant. And even as a 16-three hundred and sixty five days-aged, as dominant as he used to be skill-vibrant and along with his measurement, he used to be furthermore considered one of many more sturdy players that had plot into the program,” Dubas acknowledged. “And I mediate the mix of all this stuff, for crawl in Sault Ste. Marie, makes you revered with out wreck.

“Clearly, he’s gone on to be considered one of essentially the most revered players within the history of the franchise.”

Mighty the similar plot he used to be in San Jose.

However now it’s time to work on a peculiar legacy in Toronto. With Dubas, coach Sheldon Keefe and several other players reaching out the past week, Thornton acknowledged he already feels welcome. Forward Jason Spezza contacted Thornton after the signing and supplied to prevent his No. 19, Thornton’s longtime amount, to the newcomer.

“Good gesture, nonetheless no plot. That is his,” acknowledged Thornton, who’ll wear No. 97.

By coming to the Maple Leafs, Thornton returns to his southern Ontario roots. He used to be born in London, Ontario, and grew up in St. Thomas, 125 miles southwest of Toronto. His of us, Wayne and Mary, restful live within the neighborhood, the build the local arena known as the Joe Thornton Community Heart and the build Joe owns a farm about eight miles out of doors of town.

“Clearly my of us are [near] so that used to be segment of [the decision]. They will also be all around the grandkids plenty,” he acknowledged.

Within the cease, nonetheless, the deciding component used to be the abilities on the Maple Leafs roster.

“It used to be a little bit family nonetheless mostly hockey,” Thornton acknowledged.

And an opportunity to build his profession with a Stanley Cup championship.