TORONTO – If you’re still struggling to wrap your head around the full and complete range of Joe Thornton’s living-legend status, consider this.
Thornton called up Joe Montana to pick the iconic quarterback’s mind about whether he should leave the Bay Area and join the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 41-year-old centreman did not take the decision to walk away from the San Jose Sharks after 15 meaningful years lightly.
Thornton had blunt conversations with friends Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau about the pros and cons of leaving what’s comfortable. He spoke with several Maple Leafs and sought the opinions of people outside of hockey before finally making up his mind only four or five days ago.
But his conversation with Montana especially resonated.
“I actually talked to Joe Montana. And I think Joe gave me some good advice. He just talked about leaving San Francisco and going to Kansas City (late in his career),” said Thornton, Zooming in his first meeting with Maple Leafs reporters from Davos, on a football Sunday no less. “It was probably the hardest hockey decision I’ve ever had to make.
“I had so many people I’ve talked to over the last week. I’m just blessed that I had a chance to talk to some great people, but he’s one guy that offered me up some good advice.”
Just a couple of extraordinary Joes.
That Thornton’s parents still reside in St. Thomas, Ont. — a 100-minute drive from his new club and, soon, their cherished grandkids — is certainly a bonus.
But the oldest forward in the NHL wanted to be crystal clear why he’s returning to Ontario and joining the Maple Leafs for $700,000 and ready to take whatever role coach Sheldon Keefe assigns.
“It’s because of the hockey team, honestly,” Thornton said. “I need to win a Stanley Cup.
“This team is ready to win now. I’m ready to win.”
Thornton and his family will remain in Switzerland until NHL camps open; he notched an assist and skated 15:46 in his HC Davos debut Saturday, a 9-2 win over Rapperswil-Jona. And he confirmed that the Leafs had nearly lured him to Canada in the summer of 2017.
“I gave it a long, hard thought, and it just didn’t work out back then,” said Thornton, whose Sharks failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2020.
He rhymes off a roster loaded with Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Morgan Rielly and T.J. Brodie, and figures this was the right time to make the leap.
Asked why he believes Toronto has an edge over his other free-agent suitors, Thornton pointed first at Frederik Andersen.
“I love their goalie. I really, really do. I like Freddie a lot. I think he’s a great goalie,” Thornton said. “This is a really good team — and it’s going to be a great team at the end of this.”
General manager Kyle Dubas aggressively pitched Thornton on a homecoming because the organization prioritized boosting the “spirit and energy of the group.” In addition to being a beloved dressing-room character, Thornton can be both a calming and driving influence.
Dubas notes that, on the ice, Thronton is still “high-end playmaker” able to complement the forward group on the power play and one still driving play (52.7 Corsi-for in 2019-20) at even-strength.
“He’s a different type of personality, and he’s got a great spirit to him, and I think adding anybody like that can always be very helpful to a group at any time,” Dubas said.
The young Leafs exec has always been forthcoming in trying to follow the Tampa Bay Lightning’s blueprint for building organizational balance and depth, but for this one, he points to the other 2020 Cup finalist, the Dallas Stars.
Dubas observed Jim Nill’s recruitment and success with past-their-prime Joe Pavelski, Corey Perry and Andrej Sekera, and decided to hunt down “more experience and personality” in his own lineup.
Welcome back Jason Spezza. Enter Wayne Simmonds, Zach Bogosian, and now, Thornton.
The question will linger: Is the guy with Joe Montana on speed dial too old?
Are the Leafs — formerly known for flash and dash throughout the lineup — all of a sudden getting too creaky in the bottom six?
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion,” Dubas said. “It’s up to us to show what we can do.”
While it remains to be seen if Thornton’s legs are up for the challenge, there is no question his spirit is as ready as ever.
“I think I got lots of hockey left in me,” Thornton smiled.
• Thornton is happy he and the second-oldest Maple Leaf, Spezza, are both FaceTime guys. Spezza FaceTimed Thornton to offer up his No. 19 sweater. “Nope, I’m not taking anything from ya,” said Thornton. He appreciates the gesture, but is happy wearing 97, his current number with HC Davos.
• Thornton on making the jump from a mellow hockey town like San Jose to the media spotlight of Toronto: “I don’t mind you guys at all, so I’ll be fine with it.”
• “It doesn’t appear we’ll have to move anybody else out,” said Dubas, who believes the Leafs can be cap compliant without another trade. That sound you hear is Alexander Kerfoot breathing a deep sigh of relief. Prepare for fringe players to dance between the AHL Marlies and the big club all season.
• The GM is “open to anything,” but doesn’t foresee adding any of the remaining free-agent bargains on the market. Names like Sami Vatanen, Travis Hamonic and Andy Greene are out there. UFAs now look at Toronto’s cap picture and crowded roster and don’t see open opportunity for themselves after a week of additions.
• The Maple Leafs plan to address RFA Travis Dermott’s extension once they’ve settled Ilya Mikheyev’s arbitration case, set for Wednesday.
• UFA signing Bogosian — “a big addition,” in Dubas’s mind — will kill penalties and be given a chance to crack the top four. “We haven’t had the success as a group to where anything is owed to anybody based on previous performance,” Dubas said. “So, Zach can challenge anybody is as high up as he wants.” Creating internal competition has been a major priority over the past two weeks.
• Dubas believes signing third-stringer Aaron Dell (another former Shark) and letting Kasimir Kaskisuo walk to the Nashville Predators now gives the Maple Leafs their best one-two-three punch in goal since he joined the organization.
• Thornton, laughing, on what he remembers about crossing paths with 11-year-old Greyhounds employee Kyle Dubas when he played in the Soo: “I don’t remember two weeks ago, to be honest with ya.”
The French league’s legal commission has ordered Paris Saint-Germain to pay Kylian Mbappé the 55 million euros ($61 million) in unpaid wages that he claims he’s entitled to, the league said Thursday.
The league confirmed the decision to The Associated Press without more details, a day after the France superstar rejected a mediation offer by the commission in his dispute with his former club.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former football star Reggie Bush was at his Encino home Tuesday night when three male suspects attempted to break in, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.
“Everyone is safe,” Bush said in a text message to the newspaper.
The Los Angeles Police Dept. told the Times that a resident of the house reported hearing a window break and broken glass was found outside. Police said nothing was stolen and that three male suspects dressed in black were seen leaving the scene.
Bush starred at Southern California and in the NFL. The former running back was reinstated as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner this year. He forfeited it in 2010 after USC was hit with sanctions partly related to Bush’s dealings with two aspiring sports marketers.
VANCOUVER – A fresh face has been gracing the B.C. Lions‘ highlight reels in recent weeks.
Midway through his second CFL campaign, wide receiver Ayden Eberhardt has contributed touchdowns in two consecutive games.
The 26-year-old wide receiver from Loveland, Colo., was the lone B.C. player to reel in a passing major in his team’s 37-23 victory over the league-leading Montreal Alouettes last Friday. The week before, he notched his first CFL touchdown in the Lions’ win over the Ottawa Redblacks.
“It’s been awesome. It’s been really good,” Eberhardt said of his recent play. “At the end of the day, the biggest stat to me is if we win. But who doesn’t love scoring?”
He’ll look to add to the tally Friday when the Leos (7-6) host the Toronto Argonauts.
Eberhardt signed with B.C. as a free agent in January 2023 and spent much of last season on the practice squad before cementing a role on the roster this year.
The six-foot-two, 195-pound University of Wyoming product has earned more opportunities in his second season, said Lions’ head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell.
“He’s a super hard worker and very smart. He understands, has high football IQ, as we call it,” Campbell said.
The fact that Eberhardt can play virtually every receiving position helps.
“He could literally go into a game and we could throw him into a spot and he’d know exactly what he’s doing,” the coach said. “That allows him to play fast and earn the quarterback’s trust. And you see him making plays.”
Eberhardt credited his teammates, coaches and the rest of the Lions’ staff with helping him prepare for any situation he might face. They’ve all spent time teaching him the ins and outs of the Canadian game, or go over the playbook and run routes after practice, he said.
“I’ve played every single position on our offence in a game in the last two years, which is kind of crazy. But I love playing football,” he said. “I want to play any position that the team needs me to play.”
While B.C.’s lineup is studded with stars like running back William Stanback — who has a CFL-high 938 rushing yards — and wide receiver Justin McInnis — who leads the league in both receiving yards (1,074) and receiving TDs (seven) — versatility has been a critical part of the team’s back-to-back wins.
“I think we’ve got a lot of talented guys who deserve to get the ball and make big plays when they have the ball in their hands. So it’s really my job to get them the ball as much as possible,” said quarterback Nathan Rourke.
“I think that makes it easy when you can lean on those guys and, really, we’re in a situation where anyone can have a big game. And I think that’s a good place to be.”
Even with a talented lineup, the Lions face a tough test against an eager Argos side.
Toronto lost its second straight game Saturday when it dropped a 41-27 decision to Ottawa.
“We’ll have our hands full,” Rourke said. “We’ll have to adjust on the fly to whatever their game plan is. And no doubt, they’ll be ready to go so we’ll have to be as well.”
The two sides have already met once this season when the Argos handed the Lions a 35-27 loss in Toronto back on June 9.
A win on Friday would vault B.C. to the top of the West Division standings, over the 7-6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers who are on a bye week.
Collecting that victory isn’t assured, though, even with Toronto coming in on a two-game skid, Campbell said.
“They’ve hit a little bit of a rut, but they’re a really good team,” he said. “They’re very athletic. And you can really see (quarterback Chad Kelly’s) got zip on the ball. When you see him in there, he can make all the throws. So we’re expecting their best shot.”
TORONTO ARGONAUTS (6-6) AT B.C. LIONS (7-6)
Friday, B.C. Place
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Lions boast a 4-1 home record this season, including a 38-12 victory over the Redblacks at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, B.C., on Aug. 31. The Argos have struggled outside of BMO Field and hold a 1-5 away record. Trips to the West Coast haven’t been easy for Toronto in recent years — since 2003, the club is 4-14 in road games against B.C.
CENTURION: B.C. defensive back Garry Peters is set to appear in his 100th consecutive game. The 32-year-old from Conyers, Ga., is a two-time CFL all-star who has amassed 381 defensive tackles, 19 special teams tackles and 16 interceptions over seven seasons. “Just being on the field with the guys every day, running around, talking trash back and forth, it keeps me young,” Peters said. “It makes me feel good, and my body doesn’t really feel it. I’ve been blessed to be able to play 100 straight.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
