= 2001 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs|2001 = 2002 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs|2002 = 2003 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs|2003 = 2004 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs|2004 = 20.
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Before the Maple Leafs determined they wanted to take a run at Joe Thornton, they came up with a plan of how they thought they could best utilize the future Hall of Fame player.
GM Kyle Dubas and his handpicked coach, Sheldon Keefe, met numerous times before determining they would try Thornton on the wing, on a line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, in something of a limited way. They would sell him on that premise and first power-play time time when looking to sign Thornton.
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