Arguably the best player in franchise history, the San Jose Sharks announced that the organization will retire Joe Thornton’s No. 19 on an unspecified date next season. Taking brief stops with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers, Thornton’s last game played for the Sharks came on March 11, 2020. As of now, Patrick Marleau is the only other past member of the organization to have his number retired.
Thornton originally came to San Jose via trade; a trade that has now become one of the most lopsided in NHL history. Upset with the direction of the Boston Bruins at the time, Thornton was moved to the Sharks for a package of Brad Stuart, Marco Sturm and Wayne Primeau, after leading Boston in scoring early in the 2005-06 season. Almost immediately upon his arrival in San Jose, Thornton went on an absolute tear, scoring 20 goals and 92 points in 58 games en route to the Hart Memorial Trophy and Art Ross Trophy at season’s end.
For the next 14 seasons, Thornton would suit up in 1,104 games for the Sharks, finishing second in goals, first in assists and second in points with 251, 804 and 1,055, respectively. Throughout a 15-year run in San Jose, Thornton led the Sharks to the playoffs for a total of 12 seasons, scoring 20 goals and 115 assists in 144 games.
Although the Hart Memorial and Art Ross Trophy are the only individual awards he would win in San Jose, he received votes for the NHL All-Star Team, Frank J. Selke Trophy, and Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, as well as more votes for the Hart throughout his time as a Shark.
Thornton will become a part of the group of surefire Hall of Famers who were unable to raise the Stanley Cup throughout their career. However, the closest he got was during the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs, when the Sharks managed to take the Pittsburgh Penguins to Game 6 of the Cup Final.
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