Report: Preds in on the Joe Thornton Sweepstakes

TSN reporter and NHL insider Pierre LeBrun is reporting that the Nashville Predators have been in touch with Joe Thornton to gauge his interest in coming to Music City should he enter the open market on July 1st.

Thornton’s three-year, $20 million contract expires at the end of the month and there’s speculation that he won’t be returning to San Jose. Despite declining production, the 36 year-old centerman still has more to give as evidenced by his 43 assists and 50 points in 79 games with the Sharks last season.

With James Neal now a member of the Vegas Golden Knights as a result of the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, it makes sense that Poile would kick tires on Thornton as a stop-gap solution in the short-term. The problem is, Thornton will likely have several free-agent options should he choose to test the market on July 1st, so expect Poile to pay a hefty price if he really wants to land Jumbo Joe.