Fansided

25 top NHL free agents teams will be dying to sign in 2018

By David Rouben

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 30: James van Riemsdyk #25 of the Toronto Maple Leafs and John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders battle for the puck during their game at the Barclays Center on October 30, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 30: James van Riemsdyk #25 of the Toronto Maple Leafs and John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders battle for the puck during their game at the Barclays Center on October 30, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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SAN JOSE, CA – JANUARY 13: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks skates against the Arizona Coyotes at SAP Center on January 13, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – JANUARY 13: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks skates against the Arizona Coyotes at SAP Center on January 13, 2018 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images) /

25. Joe Thornton

Joe Thornton is a surefire Hall of Famer, and one of the best two-way centers to ever lace ’em up. But he’s nearing the end of his career, and Father Time caught up to him this season. Despite carrying an $8 million cap hit, Thornton only played 47 games and missed the entire Sharks playoff run. He was still productive, putting up 36 points in those games, and while teams should be concerned about his health, he can still be counted on as a dependable piece wherever he goes.

Why he’s in demand: There’s no chance Thornton wants to end his career with a season like that. Given all he’s accomplished, and the career numbers he’s put up, he doesn’t deserve to go down as one of the best players to never win a Stanley Cup. His chase for that elusive goal should narrow his search in the open market, but the fact that he can still put up close to a point per game and make his linemates better shouldn’t dissuade GMs from going after him.

Teams with the best chance to sign him: It seems inconceivable that Thornton would sign with anyone but San Jose. But the same could’ve been said for Patrick Marleau last year before he went to Toronto. The Sharks had to pony up $8 million for him to stay put, but with age and health concerns, he won’t command that much on the open market.

The Sharks should still be the favorites to sign him, but don’t be surprised if the Boston Bruins take a run at him, too. It would undo their biggest, or second biggest, mistake; he’d be on a contending team; and there would be a spot for him in the lineup if they let Riley Nash walk. Having Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Thornton down the middle doesn’t sound so bad.

Another potential suitor for him could be the Vegas Golden Knights because, seriously, who wouldn’t want to see that?

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