The San Jose Sharks are bringing back forward Joe Thornton on a one-year contract, reports CSN Bay Area’s Kevin Kurz. The deal is worth around $6.5 million, per Fox Sports Midwest’s Andy Strickland and TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
Joe Thornton re-signs with Sharks on 1-year deal, per report
Thornton passed on other teams to return to San Jose.
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Thornton, who turns 38 years old on July 2, is coming off an injury-plagued final season in San Jose. He played four of the Sharks’ playoff games with torn knee ligaments that required six months of rehab after surgery. He still managed 50 points in 79 games during the regular season despite the injury.
There were reports that Thornton was looking for a multi-year contract, but it appears he’s settled for the shorter term.
The Sharks remain a win-now team looking to win its first Stanley Cup, and having Thornton back in tow will definitely help there. San Jose has already passed the torch to Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture as the team’s top forwards, but Thornton remains an impact player as one of hockey’s premier playmakers.
Thornton is the only player in NHL history to win the Art Ross Trophy (most points in a season) and Hart Trophy (NHL MVP) while playing for two clubs in one season: 2005-06, when the Boston Bruins traded Thornton to San Jose.
Thornton went on to earn the captaincy with the Sharks from 2010-14, when he was demoted to alternate captain and Pavelski took the “C.” Thornton ranks 13th on the all-time assists list (1,007), 22nd in points (1,391), and will likely head to the Hall of Fame someday.
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