It turns out one of the greatest – if not the greatest – player in the history of the San Jose Sharks organization is returning to the fold.
Joe Thornton, who last skated with the Sharks in the 2019-20 season, is re-joining the organization as a player development coach and hockey operations adviser.
The St. Thomas native was traded to the Sharks from Boston in the 2005-06 season after being selected first overall in the 1997 NHL entry draft.
He closed out his NHL career in 2022 with the Florida Sharks after a single season in Toronto with the Maple Leafs.
In 15 seasons with San Jose, Thornton set the franchise record for career assists with 804. He netted 430 goals and added 1,109 assists in 1,714 games with the four teams.
He won the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player and the Art Ross Trophy as its leading scorer with 125 points (29 goals, 96 assists) in the 2005-06 season.
Thornton also won gold at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics with Team Canada.
He played one full season with the Jr. B St. Thomas Stars in 1994-95, registering 40 goals and 64 assists.
And to cap it all off, last month Thornton was one of eight individuals elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, with the induction ceremony set for Nov. 10 in Toronto.
Written by Ian McCallum
