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SAN JOSE, Calif. – Joe Thornton is back for a new season at age 40. He signed a one-year contract for $ 2 million with the San Jose Sharks on Friday, after briefly considering retirement at the end of last season.
Thornton decided during the off season that he was not ready to hang up after 21 seasons in the NHL, claiming that he would only play in San Jose. The Sharks were eager to bring Thornton back, but it was a week before training camp for the final contract.
"The words can not equate Joe's impact on this franchise since he arrived in San Jose in 2005," said General Manager Doug Wilson. "Joe is a generation player who seems to float in front of an existing Hall of Fame at every game, and his leadership and dedication to the organization and his teammates is inspiring. Improve the players around him and excited us to see him healthy and back wearing the shark emblem. "
Thornton arrived in San Jose on November 30, 2005 in Boston as part of a franchise exchange, turning the Sharks into Cup contenders who never lose everything.
He quickly became the face of the franchise, winning the Hart Trophy as the MVP in his first season, which led the team to two consecutive conference finals in 2010-11 and the final. Stanley Cup three years ago, before a defeat. in Pittsburgh.
The Sharks were hoping to give a championship to Thornton last season when their teammates and coaches openly talked about their desire to "win for Joe". But San Jose lost six times in the conference final against future champion St. Louis.
Thornton was injured in the groin in the first game of this series and his game suffered despite his two goals and his help in a win in the third game. The Sharks lost the last three games to end the season.
Despite this late injury, Thornton was generally in good health after undergoing a major knee rebuilding operation in the previous two years. He played in the last 71 games of the regular season and did not need rehab this summer, which helped his decision to come back.
Thornton's role diminished last year as he played primarily as a third-line center and was often not part of the higher power play unit. But his line with Kevin Labanc and Marcus Sorensen were the most effective in San Jose and he finished the season with 16 goals and 35 assists.
Thornton has scored 10 goals and 23 assists in his last 39 games, placing third in the team in points over that period.
He has always been a leader in the Sharks locker room and his role could be more important this season after Captain Joe Pavelski left for the agency in attack.
Thornton has 413 goals and 1,065 assists in 1,566 career games with Boston and San Jose. He ranks 14th all-time in points and only needs 22 to reach 1500 career. He is eighth of the assistants and needs 15 to succeed Adam Oates. Thornton will be in the top 10 games played in a career of 49 this year.
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