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Joe Thornton will storm the Lakers on Saturday for the first time this season for HC Davos. Image: keystone
Eismeister Zaugg
A free superstar
Joe Thornton will storm the Lakers on Saturday for the first time this season for HC Davos. The claim that it costs HCD nothing is credible.
HCD coach Christian Wohlwend already has the formation in mind: “As a center, Joe will lead a line with Hischier and Paulshaj.” HCD’s first storm nominally in the upcoming game against Rapperswil-Jona Lakers will be Joe Thornton (41), Luca Hischier (25), the older brother of NHL star Nico Hischier (21) and American Aaron Palushaj (31). . . This 97-year-old attacking formation could somehow pave the way to the first win of the season on Saturday in the home game to the Lakers after the opening two losses in Geneva (2: 5) and Lausanne (3: 4).
“We have an investment freeze for this season,” says HCD President Gaudenz Domenig. So how is it possible to incorporate an NHL legend into the team? “For Joe, missions with us are part of preparing for the NHL season,” says sports director Raëto Raffainer. “We explained to him that we had an investment freeze and he told us it was not a problem. It is important for HCD to survive this difficult time, and it is okay if we pay you expenses in the next year or two. Simply when possible. Your performance as a guest does not affect our annual accounts. ”
For now, Joe Thornton is in the team’s insurance group. Only when you have a new contract with the NHL will you need additional insurance. Toronto and San Jose try to serve the center forward. It is a one-year contract between one and three million. When the NHL season begins it is still open. At the moment, January 1 is the possible date for the start of the season. If so, Joe Thornton would be leaving HCD in early December. And if there’s no NHL season, he’ll stick with HCD while we play.
In contrast to his first guest appearance 16 years ago, Joe Thornton is now claiming no salary. At the time, it cost the HCD 250,000 net francs for an entire season. Now they are just expenses, and must be kept within manageable limits. Gaudenz Domenig says, “We will provide you with a car and pay the speeding tickets …” Joe Thornton can afford to be generous to the HCD. To date, it has raised $ 111.67 million since 1997.
This story of the free superstar is credible because there is a very special relationship between Joe Thornton and the HCD. When the NHL game was inactive for an entire season (2004/05), he came to HCD and met his wife here. Since then he has traveled to Davos every summer (he bought an apartment in the village). Now he also has a Swiss passport. Therefore, do not overcharge the HCD quota for foreigners. His son River is already breaking into the U-9 line with Lino Du Bois and Tim Wohlwend, the sons of defender Félicien Du Bois and HCD coach Christian Wohlwend. It is quite possible that this formation will dominate our league one day in the 2030s.
The question, of course, is: how good is Joe Thornton? In fact, this question is almost an insult. During the NHL lockout (2004/05) it dominated our league. First with 10 goals and 44 assists in the 40 qualifying games and then in the playoffs with an incredible 25 points in 14 games (4 goals, 21 assists). HCD stormed to win the title with two other NHL stars (Rick Nash and Niklas Hagman). Those glorious times are over. At that time Joe Thornton was 25 years old and in the following NHL season he reached 125 points in 81 games, was the NHL’s top scorer and was one of the best forwards in the world. He is now 41 years old and last season he scored 31 points in 70 NHL games.
But Joe Thornton’s value to HCD cannot be measured in statistics. The sympathetic giant (193 cm / 100 kg) is still one of the most charismatic players to ever wear the HCD dress. Coach Christian Wohlwend says: “Joe is in great shape. Nobody works as hard as him. After training, he also goes on the ice with our skills coach, pushes extra shifts in the weight room, and is also out and about on his racing bike. ”Someone like Joe Thornton continues to electrify all teams with his presence. Therefore, the motivation boost at HCD should be considerable. The naturalized Canadian does not need time to get used to. He has been training with the HCD since his arrival in early August.
