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

max miller
·2 min read

Auston Matthews explained why he brought San Jose Sharks legend Joe Thornton on the Toronto Maple Leafs Mentor trip.

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.

"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."

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said it has been a great experience to have Thornton and other mentors join the team.

"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."

Former San Jose Sharks forward Steven Lorentz brought his father on the trip.

Thornton is currently housing Macklin Celebrini. Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky said the two have been a perfect pair.

"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."

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