New Leafs defenceman Henry Thrun hopes for better times in Toronto

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Henry Thrun remembers the night in early 2024 he was thrown in against the Maple Leafs and scored his first NHL goal.

“Pretty exciting,” recalled the new Toronto defenceman Monday on an introductory Zoom call. “It was a bizarre moment, the game out of hand (his Sharks headed to a 7-1 road loss on the strength of three William Nylander assists right after signing his new contract). Our power play coach came bombing down the bench asking if I could go on.”

Mikael Granlund found Thrun open for a goal against goalie Martin Jones, one of six the 24-year-old managed before San Jose decided to accelerate its rebuild with more veteran blueliners and acquired idle enforcer/winger Ryan Reaves from Toronto last week in the process.

Thrun, yet to play a full National Hockey League season, now must find a role among full-time Leaf defencemen Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Brandon Carlo, Morgan Rielly and Simon Benoit. Philippe Myers also made a push last year from the farm.

“I’ve had no major conversations yet with (general manager Brad Treliving or coach Craig Berube,” the left-shooting Thrun said. “I’m just getting my feet wet in Toronto, the first time I’ve been traded. I’ll get more information as the week goes on.”

The Sharks’ lack of on-ice success the past few years did little for Thrun’s competitive nature, though he was called on in a variety of duties he hopes to duplicate with the Leafs. A more offensive player in college with Harvard, he has 25 points in 119 NHL games and comes at a very reasonable $1 million US ticket for this season.

‘I want to use my versatility up and down the lineup,” Thrun said. “I’ve learned how to defend at the NHL level, but there are still steps I want to take.”

He was shocked by the trade, which came while he was engrossed in a Top Gun video game in his native Massachusetts. He couldn’t help feel the irony of joining the other side of one of hockey’s great rivalries, growing up a big fan of Hall of Fame Bruin defender Zdeno Chara and once part of a summer training skate with the big man him in the Boston area.

“I’ve been up to Toronto for a lot of summer tournaments. I’m eager to explore the city and get rolling with the team. I’m anxious to see it first hand.”

Thrun will bring his San Jose No. 3 sweater choice with him and has some friendships in the Leafs organization already with frequent Marlies call-up Marshall Rifai. Thrun is the third player the Leafs have acquired from another team from the top of the fourth round of the 2019 draft with Matias Maccelli and Marlies defenceman Cade Webber, whom Thrun played prep school hockey against.

WHEN’S MARNER BACK IN T.O.?

The most anticipated regular season date on Toronto’s calendar will be revealed early Wednesday afternoon with the rest of the NHL schedule.

The league has set that time to release its full slate of games, and Toronto fans will be eager to see when the Vegas Golden Knights make their lone visit to Scotiabank Arena. Marner was acquired by Vegas in a trade after he signed a contract with the Maple Leafs for eight years at $96 million US. In his nine years as a Leaf, he reached fifth place in franchise points, but his legacy will be tied to whether he strikes gold in a long playoff run with Vegas, or strikes out as he did in many key post-season games for Toronto.

It’s possible the Leafs play in Vegas before what is sure to be an emotional Bay St. return. On Monday, the league did reveal a tripleheader opening night of three games to start the season on Tues. Oct . 7. It features the Florida Panthers beginning their quest for a third straight Stanley Cup against Chicago at home, followed by the New York Rangers hosting Pittsburgh and the nightcap, Colorado at Los Angeles.

Lhornby@postmedia.com

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