Rumor: Maple Leafs Shifting Focus to Joe Thornton

According to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston, there is mutual interest between the Toronto Maple Leafs and free-agent, Joe Thornton.

Chris Johnston on SDP: "I think that they remain very interested in Joe Thornton, and I think that he's open to the idea... I think that there's some mutual interest there".
— Kevin Papetti (@KPapetti) October 13, 2020

Thornton, the long-time San Jose Shark, is currently over in Switzerland preparing for the NHL season and is reportedly interested in signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs or Pittsburgh Penguins.

For the Leafs, they have been busy lately with multiple trades and signings and could use Thornton to round off their forward group. The move would give Thornton a chance to play some power-play time on their second unit.

Even at 41, Thornton still has some of the best vision in the NHL and is an elite passer of the puck.

The Leafs don't have a ton of cap space and still have restricted free-agents to sign, so expect any deal to be hovering around $1 million for one year.

The Leafs just hope Thornton isn't too busy to pick up the phone...

Doug Wilson said Joe Thornton is still in Switzerland, and that he talked to him the other day. "He was shoveling snow. But he said it was warm enough. He didn't have to wear a shirt." #SJSharks
— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) October 7, 2020