The San Jose Sharks announced today, September 6th, that they have resigned forward Joe Thornton to a one-year contract worth a reported $2 million. Thornton appeared in 73 games for the Sharks last season, over which he produced 16 goals and 35 assists. He then played 19 playoff games for the team, through which he tallied four goals and six assists. Drafted first overall of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins, he has played in 1,566 career NHL games, over which he has recorded 413 goals and 1,065 assists. The 40-year-old center has only played for the Bruins and Sharks over his 22 season NHL and professional career.
My Reaction: Thornton was my favorite player growing up even though he was traded from the Bruins when I was three, and the Sharks are my favorite Western Conference team because of him, so I’m so excited he’ll be back for another year. It was essentially known all along that he’d be back and he’d basically take whatever money the Sharks offered him (within reason of course), but it’s nice that it’s confirmed now. “Jumbo Joe” is undoubtedly a future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and is still going strong at 40 years old and with both knees rebuilt over the past two seasons. That alone is incredible, not to mention the fact that he’s arguably one of the best passers and playmakers to ever play the game, as he sits at eighth on the all-time assists list and 14th on the all-time points list. He can also put the puck in the back of the net himself more than I think he’s given credit for sometimes, and he’s very hard to knock off the puck due to his massive frame. His hockey IQ and vision are unmatched., and he’s still a lethal threat on the powerplay because of them, and they’re a big part of the reason he’s been able to keep up with the changing NHL and play for as long as he has.
Over the course of his career, he has won the Hart and Art Ross trophies, as well as an Olympic and two World Cup gold medals and a World Championship silver medal with Canada. But, that’s not all. He’s also been named to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team three times and the First All-Star team once, and he’s also been to the All-Star game four times. Jumbo’s also a great guy to have in the room, as he always finds a way to lighten the mood regardless of what just happened on the ice, and he’s a phenomenal leader, serving as captain of the Bruins and then the Sharks for several seasons, and he now serves as an alternate captain in San Jose. The one thing he’s still missing is a Stanley Cup, and I’m certainly not alone in saying that I really hope he manages to get one before he retires. He still has some gas left in the tank and he could easily play beyond this season provided he doesn’t suffer any more major injuries, and even if he does who knows with him. You won’t find many (if any) people who love the game more than Jumbo, which is incredible that we are still able to say that about him at his age and after he’s spent 22 seasons in the league, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win and be at his best. There’s really not much else that I could say that would do a legend such as himself true justice, other than like I said before he’s undoubtedly a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer. But, overall, I’m just really happy that we get one more season of Jumbo Joe, and now, I definitely need to go get myself a pair of tickets to the game in October!
Hockey Addict 