It’s now officially the offseason of the Ontario-boy homecoming — Wayne Simmonds, TJ Brodie, now Thornton — and after the Simmonds addition on October 9, this is the second signing this week of an Ontario-born player linked to the Leafs in the rumour mill for the majority of his NHL career (both played junior in the Soo, too).
In the words of departed Mike Babcock, “Mark my words: They’re coming home.”
This Thornton acquisition conjures up memories of the 2004 trade deadline when the Leafs added 41-year-old future HHOFer Ron Francis in the final season of his NHL career ahead of their last pre-lockout Stanley Cup chase.