Carol Schram and Adam Kierzenblat profile the San Jose Sharks and their WHL connections in 2023-24. Joe Thornton stood by Patrick Marleau's side during the latter's number retirement ceremony on Feb. 25, 2023. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxODIzMDc2MjYwNzgzMzk0/usatsi_20176381_168400847_lowres.jpg] Joe Thornton stood by Patrick Marleau's side during the latter's number retirement ceremony on Feb. 25, 2023. 'Jumbo Joe' is officially riding off into the sunset. After years of speculation, Joe Thornton finally cleared the air regarding his future on Saturday, officially announcing his retirement from the NHL after 1,714 career games spread across 24 seasons with the Boston Bruins, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers. Selected first overall by the Bruins in the 1997 NHL draft, Thornton blossomed into one of the best and most consistent players of his era, racking up an astounding 430 goals and 1,100 assists while also earning one Art Ross Trophy, one Hart Trophy, one first-team all-star nod, three second-team all-star nods, and two third-team all-star nods. Thornton will go down in hockey history as one of the greatest playmakers of all-time, redefining the art of the assist for the post-lockout era by leading the league in helpers on three separate occasions – two of which saw him register more than 90 assists. Despite never winning a Stanley Cup, Thornton helped the Sharks become one of the best teams of that era, consistently going on deep playoff runs throughout the mid-2000s to the mid-2010s while also making the Stanley Cup final in 2016. In 187 career post-season games, Thornton finished with an impressive 32 goals and 102 assists for 134 points, racking up 21 points in 24 games throughout his one and only Finals appearance. As a remarkable hockey player and one of the best characters the game has ever seen, the hockey world will undoubtedly miss Thornton's presence and wishes him the best in retirement.
