TORONTO — You make a change in pro sports when an injury situation forces your hand or something specific stops working. Or when everything careens so far sideways for your team that you need players to show up for the next game wearing casual clothes and work boots in order to shift the mojo.
Otherwise, you stick with what’s working.
So it did not rank as a ground-shaking surprise to see Joe Thornton back alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner in a Sunday practice that served as the 41-year-old’s last mandated sweat before returning to the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ lineup.
That this had become a local point of debate underscores just how well things went during the 10 games Thornton missed with a crack rib. The Leafs went 8-1-1, Marner put up 16 points and Matthews scored nine times despite also missing one of those games himself.
That’s a sign of how fabulously everything progressed with Zach Hyman skating in Thornton’s left-wing spot on the top line. But it didn’t produce an overwhelming case to keep him stationed there in the larger context of what’s best for the team from top to bottom.
Remember that Thornton was signed by Toronto with a specific role in mind and placed alongside Matthews and Marner right from his first skate before training camp. Remember, too, that 97-34-16 dominated in nearly 50 minutes of 5-on-5 play together before Thornton was injured on an innocent-looking check from Edmonton’s Josh Archibald — with the Leafs not surrendering even one high danger-chance against in those situations, while controlling shot attempts (73.5 per cent), shots (63.2 per cent), expected goals (73.7 per cent) and scoring chances (79.1 per cent).
There was enough there for head coach Sheldon Keefe to restore the line as soon as Thornton’s health allowed. They’ll likely be sent out to start Monday’s visit by the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena.
“I think the line had enough success and did enough good things in that short window that I didn’t want just an unfortunate injury to Joe to disrupt what was our plan to go with at the start of the season,” Keefe said. “I don’t think the sample was big enough to make any real determinations either way, for the matter. But we want to give it a little more runway here and we’re obviously hoping that it can stick.”
You need to get a true read on whether it works before deciding it doesn’t. There could also be an ancillary benefit gained if John Tavares and William Nylander manage to get some traction with Hyman after seeing a rotating cast of players cycle through the open audition on the team’s second line, and the previous underlying results for that trio suggest they likely will.
But this is about Thornton, too.
While his Hall of Fame talents may be diminished with age, he clearly had something to offer in those first handful of games with the Leafs. His infectious personality remains a source of curiosity here in his new home — “I think it’ll be a big boost, especially with just the vibe in the room, the team morale,” Morgan Rielly said Sunday when asked about Thornton’s impending return — but we should not let it completely overshadow what he can still do on the ice.
Keefe always figured Thornton would complement Matthews and Marner nicely because of his ability to control the puck down low, plus the legendary passing ability that’s seen him amass more assists than all but six other players in NHL history.
“Probably the area that I had maybe underestimated a little bit was Joe’s ability to win the puck back,” Keefe said. “Just the number of times where he was tracking guys from behind and with his reach got a stick on puck, created so many loose pucks and turnovers and opportunities for Mitch and Auston going the other way.
“Those kind of things really stood out.”
His is a specialized role, which makes sense given how unique the player is.
There will be some shifts at 5-on-5 where Hyman or even Tavares takes a turn in Thornton’s spot — a nod to the fact he can’t handle 17 or 18 even-strength minutes per night like his much younger linemates.
Thornton was beaming Sunday at the prospect of rejoining the lineup. He’s been outfitted with extra padding around his ribs and feels comfortable with the pain management after taking plenty of contact during recent skates, saying, “The hardest part is over.”
He’s also had a chance to get in some extra skills work with the player development staff and watch his new teammates climb to the top of the North Division. There’s a healthy appreciation for the role he’s stepping back into with Marner and Matthews, too.
“Feels good,” he said. “Obviously two very talented players that are playing really well right now, so I’m just hoping to keep the good play going I guess.”
Under the circumstances, it only made sense to give it another go.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
