Thornton might see reduced role with Leafs
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Author of the article:
Lance Hornby
Publishing date:
Apr 12, 2021 • 58 minutes ago • 5 minute read • Join the conversation 
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen makes a save on Maple Leafs centre Jason Spezza last night. USA TODAY Sports Article content
For the stormy seas of playoffs, the Maple Leafs have added a fourth captain’s ‘C’ to the bridge.
Nick Foligno joins John Tavares, Jason Spezza and Joe Thornton as those who had that letter on previous NHL teams, though in Thornton’s post-deadline world, he might have a reduced role.
Heading into Monday’s game in Montreal, the 41-year-old Thornton had gone 12 games without a point and appears to be most vulnerable to be bumped off left wing when Foligno moves in with Zach Hyman and Alex Galchenyuk. His playing time has come down from his early season gauge, to less than 12 minutes in six of the past seven games. He’s not been able to help the generally ailing power play and at times his skating legs have trouble keeping up.
But before anyone writes off Jumbo when crunch time comes in May, general manager Kyle Dubas cautioned Foligno has a quarantine to get through before debuting, Riley Nash won’t be ready for a month and coach Sheldon Keefe has a lot of games and lineup possibilities to sort through.
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“The only thing I can tell you about Joe is that he is the exact same every day, regardless of what his position is,” Dubas said Monday afternoon. “He’s come here for a reason (to win his first Cup at age 41) which he’s stated repeatedly and he’s willing to do whatever it is, on and off the ice, to help the club get there at this stage of his career.
“Even when his playing time is not what it has been in the past, it has no impact on his energy and who he is each day and that’s wonderful for our entire group to see.”
Thornton signed here at the NHL minimum of $700,000 US for that twilight shot at a title, the same lure for hometowner Wayne Simmonds and Zach Bogosian. who found himself revived with the champion Tampa Bay Lightning last summer.
“I don’t think you can ever have enough leadership,” Dubas said. “John is our captain (having served on Long Island), and there’s Joe (San Jose), Jason (Ottawa) and Nick (Columbus) and a group forming here who could be captains (Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Morgan Rielly are alternates).
“We have different styles in the (larger roster); Jake Muzzin, Zach Hyman, it makes it very easy to manage them and as I know from Sheldon, to coach them, because they hold each other accountable and call each other out on different things. The younger guys are starting to mature into that. Having examples for them to follow as we really get rolling with this thing and they get into their prime is invaluable for the growth of the program.”
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TICK, TICK ON NICK
Keefe might have to wait for Foligno up to 10 days, the first week under the required Canadian government isolation, then likely a few days of practice, taking the Leafs to the end of next week in games against Winnipeg. Foligno was scheduled to arrive in Toronto on Tuesday and Keefe can’t wait to meet him.
“He’s one of hose guys who does whatever it takes to win. He’s versatile, can play anywhere in the lineup. He just checks so many boxes. I definitely have a plan (for deploying him), but I won’t talk about it yet.”
HEART OF OHIO
Foligno found it very hard to leave Columbus teammates and fans after nine years for many reasons – one of them far from the rink.
He and wife Janelle started up The Heart’s Playbook Foundation after daughterMilana, one of their three children, developed a heart defect requiring two surgeries. It funds research to both Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus and the facility in Boston where Milana’s procedures were performed. The couple also has two younger sons ,Landon and Hudson, the latter who also had a health scare with pneumonia a few years ago and spent a week in NCH.
Janelle wrote a children’s book, Dear Heart, to help kids through the daunting prospect of such an operation.
“Columbus has a place in my heart forever. Forever and ever. And that’s how our family feels,” Nick said.
GOING FORTH IN THE NORTH
As far as other teams in the division sought to improve for playoffs, possibly a meeting with the Leafs, Montreal had made its moves before Monday, while the Jets laid low and then scooped Jordie Benn from Vancouver to make their back line even more ferocious.
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“It’s not about trying to keep up (with the Leafs), it’s making the right decisions for your team,” Jets’ GM Kevin Cheveldayoff told TSN.
Edmonton was mostly quiet, while Brad Treliving, Calgary’s GM, said the unlikelihood of being able to re-sign David Rittich led him to talks with Dubas the past few days.
“Toronto is getting a good goalie,” said Treliving, who despite Rittich’s good numbers, had paid big bucks for Jacob Markstrom in that role.
In four starts against Toronto, the Czech-born Rittich had a .946 save percentage, though near-zero offensive support from the Flames.
“He definitely plays very well against the Leafs,” Keefe wryly noted. “Our players have a strong impression of him.”
LOOSE LEAFS
Foligno laughed that his two young sons were trying to process the trade, They most interested in which other Leafs they could cheer for and as goalie fans, who plays net for Toronto … Brockville-born former Canuck Ben Hutton said his phone was blowing up with excited messages from friends and family about joining the Leafs. He relishes a shot at the Cup in Toronto and added “I’m excited to get back to all the crazy Canadian fans,” after time in L.A. and Anaheim … Foligno and Stefan Noesen, acquired in the same three-team trade on Sunday, have another thing in common. They’re first-round picks of Ottawa in ‘06 and ‘11, respectively. Noesen is from Plano, Texas, at least the second Leaf born in the Lone Star State. Hall of Fame defenceman Brian Leetch hailed from Corpus Christi, where his Dad was based as a Navy cargo pilot … One of the caveats for any teams adding players at the deadline was whether new additions would have to be protected for the Seattle expansion draft in July … The Marlies start five straight road games Thursday in Laval.
lhornby@postmedia.com
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