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Joe Thornton signs one-year contract with Florida Panthers

By Ian Oland

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August 13, 2021 11:21 am

Jumbo Joe will ride again.

The Florida Panthers announced on Friday that they signed Joe Thornton to a one-year deal. Thornton will be 42 next season. It’ll be his 24th NHL season.

According to CapFriendly, Thornton’s deal is for the league minimum.

“With more than 1,600 games played in the NHL, Joe will bring a wealth of experience to our locker room and lineup,” Panthers general manager Bill Zito said in a press release. “His drive to succeed is unmistakable and we are thrilled that he chose to sign with our club and that he believes in what we are building here in South Florida.”

Thornton is still looking for his elusive first Stanley Cup championship. The legendary forward has played the second-most games in NHL history (1,680) without winning a Cup. In 2016, he lost in the Cup Final as a member of the San Jose Sharks.

“I watched the playoffs last year – Florida-Tampa – and it was a great series,” Thornton said after the signing was announced. “I loved their team and it left a big impression on me.

“They’re close, they really are. It doesn’t matter what happened in years past, this is a new team.”

Thornton played last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring 20 points (5g, 15a) in 44 games.

Here’s the full press release from the Florida Panthers:

Florida Panthers Sign Forward Joe Thornton to a One-Year Contract

SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers General Manager Bill Zito announced today that the club has signed forward Joe Thornton to a one-year contract.

“With more than 1,600 games played in the NHL, Joe will bring a wealth of experience to our locker room and lineup,” said Zito. “His drive to succeed is unmistakable and we are thrilled that he chose to sign with our club and that he believes in what we are building here in South Florida.”

Thornton, 42, has appeared in 1,680 games with the Boston Bruins (1997-98 to 2005-06), San Jose Sharks (2005-06 to 2019-20) and Toronto Maple Leafs (2020-21), which stands as the second-most games played of any active NHL player and is the sixth-most games played all time. He has amassed 1,529 points (425-1,104-1,529) over his career, which leads all active NHL skaters. His 1,104 career assists lead all active players and ranks as the seventh-most assists all time. Over 186 career NHL postseason games, Thornton has produced 134 points (32-102-134).

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound native of London, Ontario has been named an NHL All-Star six times (2002-03, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09) and was the recipient of both the Art Ross Trophy and the Hart Trophy in 2005-06 after leading the league with 96 assists and 125 points. He paced the NHL in assists for three consecutive seasons, in 2005-06 (96), 2006-07 (92) and 2007-08 (67).

Thornton is San Jose’s all-time franchise leader in assists (804), power-play points (402) and plus-minus rating (+161), ranking second in total points (1,055). He served as captain for both the Sharks and Bruins, eclipsing the 100-point mark three times (2002-03, 2005-06 and 2006-07) and the 80-point mark seven times.

Thornton played for HC Davos of the Swiss National League in 2004-05, 2012-13 and 2020-21. He led Davos to a National League title in 2004-05, leading the playoffs in assists (21) and points (25) over 14 postseason contests.

On the international stage, Thornton has earned Gold Medals representing Canada at the IIHF U20 World Junior Championship (1997), the World Cup of Hockey (2004, 2016) and the Winter Olympic Games (2010). He also earned a Silver Medal at the 2005 IIHF World Championship and was named the tournament’s most valuable player after recording 16 points (6-10-16) over nine games.

Prior to his professional career, Thornton played two seasons (1995-96 to 1996-97) for the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), producing 198 points (71-127-198) over 125 games.

Thornton was originally selected by the Boston Bruins with the first overall pick of the 1997 NHL Draft.