{ "blocks": [ { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Auston Matthews explained why he brought San Jose Sharks legend Joe Thornton on the Toronto Maple Leafs Mentor trip." } }, { "id": "ffacm6hg-usc4w6mp", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/nickbarden/status/1876962808312864849", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1876962808312864849", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Thornton spent one season playing for the Maple Leafs, the 2021 shortened COVID-19 season. He spent much time with Matthews, including two weeks in quarantine as they entered Canada before the season started." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "\"I mean, he's not just my mentor. I feel like he's almost everybody's mentor here,\" Matthews said on Tuesday after the Maple Leafs 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. \"We talk all the time and I thought it was just a cool opportunity to bring him along. And you know, with his jersey retirement this year and just the relationship that he still has with myself, a lot of guys on the team, [and] staff members. It's been a treat to have him so far. So it's been a lot of fun.\"" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said it has been a great experience to have Thornton and other mentors join the team." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "\"It's great having them around. Seeing a lot of guys that I haven't seen in a while too. Doug Gilmour, Joe Thornton, Wendel (Clark),\" Berube said. \"Plus all the mentors here, some fathers, different people that have meant a lot to the guys in their lifetime. So we had a great trip so far.\"" } }, { "id": "xa1ohnve-tywvgegy", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1876727289531998404", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1876727289531998404", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Former San Jose Sharks forward Steven Lorentz brought his father on the trip." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Thornton is currently housing Macklin Celebrini. Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky said the two have been a perfect pair." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "\"He's one of the greatest players to ever play the game,\" Warsofsky said about Thornton. \"[He] was a great captain, a great leader. He was a winner. He knows what it takes. I know he never won a Stanley Cup, but the way he is. His personality. He's a competitor, and that's all things that are intangibles of winning and getting this organization over the top.\"" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Make sure you bookmark THN's San Jose Sharks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Two Barracuda Players Named To AHL All-Star Game" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "REPORT: Former Sharks Defenseman Nearing Extension With Oilers" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Warsofsky Wants Sharks To Keep Mikael Granlund" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Jake Walman's Return To The Sharks Lineup Is Close" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "'I Can Keep Getting Better': Sharks' Henry Thrun Made A Mentality Change Resulting In Better Play" } }, { "type": "list", "data": { "style": "unordered", "items": [ "Follow Max on Twitter: @Real_Max_Miller" ] } } ] }

Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews Explains Why Sharks' Joe Thornton Was His Mentor Choice