Joe Thornton Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Former Hart Trophy winner Joe Thornton signs one-year contract with Panthers

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 8/13/21

Veteran forward Joe Thornton is on to his third team in three NHL seasons.

The 42-year-old signed a one-year contract with the Florida Panthers, the team announced Friday.

"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 statement. "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."

Welcome to South Florida, Jumbo

We’ve signed Joe Thornton to a one-year contract!!

» https://t.co/ppifauKoIJ pic.twitter.com/mlsOwZrd82
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) August 13, 2021

Thornton has appeared in 1,680 career games with the Boston Bruins, San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs. He spent eight seasons with the Bruins before being traded to the Sharks, where he spent 15 seasons. He then signed with the Maple Leafs for the 2020-21 campaign.

The Ontario native has tallied 1,529 points (425 goals, 1,104 assists), which leads all active NHL skaters. His assists rank as the seventh most of all time.

Over 186 career postseason games, Thornton has tallied 134 points (32 goals, 102 assists). He has never won a Stanley Cup, which likely factored in to his decision to return for a 19th season.

Thornton, a six-time All-Star, won the Art Ross Trophy and the Hart Trophy during the 2005-06 season. He is San Jose's all-time franchise leader in assists (804), power-play points (402) and plus-minus rating (+161).

He joins a Panthers squad that has made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. However, Florida has failed to make it out of the first round of the playoffs since the 1995-96 season, when it lost in the Stanley Cup Final to the Colorado Avalanche.

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