Joe Thornton on Maple Leafs: 'I need to win a Stanley Cup'

Joe Thornton revealed that he signed with Toronto because he thinks the team can help him achieve his ultimate goal. Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Thornton on signing with Maple Leafs: 'I need to win a Stanley Cup'

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 10/18/20

Joe Thornton's decision to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs was a shocking one, but they do have a much better shot at winning the Stanley Cup than the San Jose Sharks.

Thornton spent the past 15 seasons with San Jose after spending the first eight years of his career with the Boston Bruins. The 41-year-old's days in the NHL are winding down, and his shot at winning a Stanley Cup is dwindling because of that.

The four-time All-Star revealed that he signed with Toronto because he thinks the team can help him achieve his ultimate goal, according to Kristen Shilton of TSN:

Joe Thornton on choosing #Leafs: "It's the hardest hockey decision I've ever had to make, but I truly believe with the roster they have, with the guys they picked up this offseason, I think this team is ready to win now, [and] I'm ready to win."
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) October 18, 2020

Joe Thornton on #Leafs: "I need to win a Stanley Cup, and I think this is a great team that can do that."
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) October 18, 2020

The Maple Leafs currently are a solid team, but they haven't found much playoff success over the past two decades. From 2005-12 they didn't qualify for the playoffs, and that happened again from 2013-16. In the last three seasons, the team hasn't been able to make it past the first round, with losses to the Bruins in 2017-18 and 2018-19. This season, they didn't make it past the Qualifying Round against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Thornton may not be able to win a Stanley Cup with Toronto this coming season, but out of the teams interested in him, the Maple Leafs probably were his best bet.

He'll bring much-needed veteran leadership to a young Maple Leafs locker room, and that could propel them past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2003-04 season.

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