The Career of Joe Thornton 

Jumbo Joe Thornton was my childhood. Him along with Setoguchi, Marleau, Clowe, Boyle, and Nabby made my formative years as a hockey fan. He'll for sure get his number up there with Patty in the rafters at SAP.

God damn Penguins..

Only got to see Jumbo Joe play once, but it was when Mrazek got in his face and got KOed. Peak hockey memory.

He sure did make the Sharks/Wings playoff series more intense

Entertainment Guy fan here, can't believe he gets heck for messing up the boards, but you take credit when he does a great job. Let him know I see what he does for you, and I appreciate him!

My kids took skating lessons where the Sharks practiced, my daughter is learning snow plow stops, who comes on the ice to help?Joe Thornton and Devin Setoguchi. Joe was all smiles with the kids.

His beard alone should land him in the HOF.

The player that made me fall in love with this sport and the sharks. I live on the east coast and was only able to see him play in person once a season and was able to go to game 1 of the 2016 finals he was so much fun to watch

First saw him a lifetime ago, when he was on the Hounds. He was more man than beard, back then. Hell of a career, Jumbo. Wish you would've gotten your ring.

Hope Thornton becomes a coach or something like that and wins the cup in that role. Man deserves to lift it one day.

The day that trade went down, the Sharks were playing in Dallas. I was at that game and the start was delayed as they really didn’t know who was a member of the sharks and who wasn’t. One of the weirdest things I’ve ever seen in my years watching hockey.

JUMBOOOOOOO! I’m here for this.

First ballot Hall of famer

One of the worst if not the worst Bruins trades in team history.

As a young bruins fan when Thornton got traded away, I was devastated. I remember the first time he came back with San Jose, I begged my dad to go to the game to see him. If I am remembering correctly, he got a game misconduct very early in that game. Was very happy for the success he found in San Jose, but sad he never got a cup.

Joe has been my favorite player for as long as I can remember. As a little Bruins fan I always thought he was so cool and man him being traded was a bummer to say the least. I remember my dad broke the news to me like a relative passed lol. The worst part is they got squat for him. Though it’s a Sharks picture, I still proudly have my autographed photo on my wall.

Jumbo is similar to Doan and Iginla for me. Great players, better ppl but sadly never got to see them lift the Cup

One of my favorite players of all time. As a life-long Sharks fan, it was incredible to see him play live. Shame we couldn’t win him a cup.

Without a doubt Jumbo had the best vision and passing in the era he played. One of my favorite players of all time. I remember towards the end of the Stanley Cup finals he looked like the knight at the end of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade because he was so worn out and drained.

The craziest part about his career is that both 2011 and 2019 SJ made the WCF and if they won he would have faced the Bruins both times

Have been a Sharks fan since 1997, Thornton's the best player in franchise history. Even if the Sharks couldn't get those final 2 wins against that Pens team in 2016, #19 will be retired next year surely.

Magnificent hands, one of my favorite players to watch dish the puck. Had an underrated scoring touch. He may not have won the cup as a player, but I hope he climbs the managerial ranks and lands one as a GM.

As a Belgian fan, my first imported Sharks jersey was a Thornton one. What a player, assist first profile but he was precious for the team. 2016 was the year for him and Patty but the Pens were better. When you talk about Jumbo, I always see his smile, what a great person.

"Jumbo" Joe Thornton # 24 NHL seasons = representing 4 NHL teams; Boston Bruins 1997-2006, SJ Sharks 2006-2020, Toronto Maple Leafs 2020-2021 & Florida Panthers 2021-2022. # 2 NLA seasons = representing HC Davos 2004-2005 & 2012 + 2020. - Stanley Cup finals with SJ Sharks in 2017. - Swiss National League Champion with HC Davos in 2005. - Spengler Cup champion with HC Davos in 2004. - Olympic gold medalist 2010. - 2-time World Cup gold medalist 2004 & 2016. - IIHF World Championship silver medalist 2005. - IIHF World Junior Championship gold medalist 1997. - Art Ross Trophy Award 2006. - Hart Memorial Trophy Award 2006. - NHL first All-Star team: 2006. - 3x NHL second All-Star team: 2003, 2008 & 2016. - San Jose Sharks' all-time leader in Season Assists - 745 - San Jose Sharks' all-time leader in Season +/- with +172 - San Jose Sharks' all-time leader in Season PPG - 1.01 - 2nd San Jose Sharks' all-time leader in Season Points - 1. 055 - 3rd San Jose Sharks' all-time leader in Season Games - 1. 104. - San Jose Sharks' all-time leader in Play-Off Assists - 90 - 2nd San Jose Sharks' all-time leader in Play-Off Points - 115 - 2nd San Jose Sharks' all-time leader in Play-Off Games - 144 - 4th San Jose Sharks' all-time leader in Play-Off Goals - 25 - 6th NHL all-time in career Season Games - 1 714. - 7th NHL all-time in career Season Assists - 1 109. - 12th NHL all-time in career Season Points - 1 539. - 79th NHL all-time in career Season Goals - 430. - 25th NHL all-time in career Play-Off Assists - 102 - 28th NHL all-time in career Play-Off Games - 187 - 41st NHL all-time in career Play-Off Points - 134

As a Canucks fan who grew up in the Sedin Era I still think I have to give the title of Best Playmaker to Joe Thornton.

I'm bummed he never got his 4 goal game. It would have been an epic ending to an amazing career.

Thornton is part of the 1,900 club and there are only seven players in that club. Games played in a career (regular season + playoffs): 1. Mark Messier 1,992 2. Patrick Marleau 1,974 3. Jaromir Jagr 1,941 4. Gordie Howe 1,924 5. Chris Chelios 1,917 6. Ron Francis 1,902 7. Joe Thornton 1,901

Jumbo is the reason I'm a Sharks and Bruins fan. Have a Sharks jersey from when he was captain. I got the reverse retro pooh bear that I will eventually put his number on. My all-time favorite player.

he officially retired today thanks for already uploading it

Even while steadily following hockey back then, I still often forget he was anything but a Shark. What a career and with no cup I imagine he's eventually HoF bound.

Amazing player ! Wish he stayed with the B's but he was absolutely taken in with the Sharks .

almost a certainty that the next number hanging in the rafters at the shark tank is 19, right next to number 12.

I always rooted for Joe Thornton, my team being in the east it was pretty easy to do that after the trade to SJ. It would have been nice to see him win the cup, but there is no doubt in my mind that he should be a hall of famer.

one of my favorite players. i met him as a kid at a little signing when he first got traded to san jose. still have the signed puck i hope he can get to lift the cup one day while playing a different role in the organization. he's gotta be a hall of famer, right?

Amazing how many HOFs and All-Stars play their last season with Florida

Jumbo is a player I always loved to see play, a classic pass first type of player who made his linemates score better. I hope San Jose has a job for him behind the bench.

Very impressive numbers during the "clutch & grab / neutral zone trap" era.

Love Jumbo! Sucks the Sharks couldn’t get him that well deserved Stanley cup. Wish him the best in his future endeavors.

These are great , keep them coming, do Carrer of kovalchuk next

One of the best players I ever saw, and he will always be a Shark and a GOAT.

Ngl id pay to see you talk about Bruins management from the late 90s and early 00s

I was so lucky to get to watch Joe Thornton all those years in San Jose. He was like a jumbo Wayne Gretzky…insane puck protection and he could put the puck anywhere he wanted. He was a magician.

Great job with Jumbo Joe's career analysis. Great passer, scored plenty of points against my beloved Canucks.

As a kid, I was so happy when my favorite team traded for the face of backyard hockey. He and Marleau will always be my favorite players (honorable mention to Nabokov)

I'm someone who began admiring Joe in Boston, even when Burns was throttling his playing time, I wasn't the only one to see the rips in the mask. And we were the same people that also saw DEFINATE Bruins management problems and would hardly stick up for them. So, here's a few historical chestnuts: 1) Adam Oates was dealt, partly as a favor to him. There were dark off-ice things that I doubt few but the parties involved know about. 2) The 400 lb Gorilla line was a great idea and a dominant line, but once Mike Knuble moved on, it turned out he was a key catalyst, and the effectiveness with Thornton and Murray dissipated. 3) Joe was a wrecking machine off ice, mostly to local bars and restaurants, some refused to serve him, some did but were not thrilled about it. 4) I'm pretty sure it was a New Jersey match I was at right before the trade, but I do recall him appearing to quit playing during the game, not even attempting to take the puck during a face off. 5) Agree the 2011 hypothesis is not exactly sound, but I do firmly believe the trade accelerated Bergeron on his path as one the Greatest Bruins in history, Also, the on-ice leadership took a HUGE jump and the locker room lawyer cliques were not allowed to gain a foothold. To Joe's credit, he did seem to mature significantly in San Jose and I never held his success against him. But me and others didn't particularly miss him, either.

9:00 If I'm remembering timing correctly that series between the Sharks and Canucks Jumbo needed help getting his jersey on because he was playing with a separated shoulder.

Also "frustration continues" should be the slogan for my Sharks lol

Thornton, Nabby, and Owen Nolan are my all-time favorite Sharks. So grateful I got to see him play so many games in San Jose.

He also won the Spengler Cup (2004) and the Swiss ice hockey championship (2005) with HC Davos.

When I 1st got into hockey I had thought after Detriots dynasty Joe Thornton would lead the Sharks to a dynasty. It’s tough they got close but not even one championship

A career so legendary this video was worth a second look

THANKS!!!

It’s a shame he never got that cup with the sharks.

Joe Thorton announced his retirement on social media. He is 44 years old.

Unfortunate that Torts called it

What always will stick out with me with Jumbo Joe is that he seemed to be two different players, and two different people, between Boston and San Jose. In Boston his goal/assist ratio was more balanced but he was much more physical and a snarly. It seemed the moment he went to San Jose he became an excellent perimeter playmaker but also got the, as Tom Larschied called him, the "loveable lug" personality he kept the rest of his career where he was the big, chill nice guy mentor on a team.

Jumbo and Patty, two Sharks mainstays that I hope find their way back into the organization just like Nabby, Ricci and Grier

Every Sharks playoff team had flaws, none of them were "just Joe Thornton". Second favorite player after Marleau - well deserved to be in the rafters and a first ballot HoF.

One of my favorite players of all time. Hope he gets that cup in a management role.

Dont forget he won swiss championship together with hagman and nash in davos in the lockout year. Ever wonder why some teams didnt want to get them together

Yes Jumbo time

So how. About a career video of PJ Axelsson?

No idea how/why Jumbo was left off the NHL's 100 greatest players list. I guess they just looked at number of Cup rings and decided Jonathan Toews and Jacques Lemaire >>> Thornton :/

One of the greatest playmakers the game has ever seen

Kinda gave him a hard time for never getting the CUP. But man now do we miss him . San Jose

Very sad he never won a cup with the sharks but he’s a class act

It's been a blast playing "spot the beard" this season at Sharks and Barracuda games. I'm so happy that it seems he's elected to come back to the Bay to work with the front office here.

Cinderella story, Boston signs him for the postseason as a 23rd roster spot. Bruins win the Cup with Jumbo playing 1 playoff game lol.... Not happening, but wish that man Won a Cup. Thanks for the memories Jumbo!

He’s probably one of the best players ever to never win a cup

The legend of jumbo joe and the golf cart

Perhaps he could play with Jagr

I'd argue that Thornton was a better playmaker then sedin. As good a shenrik was he always had Daniel o his line where Thornton played with o many differnt line mates over his career. Many of those line mates who's point totals plummeted off a cliff after being separated from him like cheechoo and more recently kevin Labanc.

JUMBOOOOO!

Besides Patty my favorite player

Fun Fact: Joe Thornton was the last active big 4 sport athlete to play in the 1990s

Good lord I love those black shoulder jerseys 😍

sharks video woooooo

Jumbo is officially retired today, October 28, 2023. Congrats, Jumbo!

I remember the year in the finals against Pittsburgh. The sharks were facing elimination but managed to win, I remember seeing a close up of the Thornton on the bench and even tho the sharks had one, he looked so defeated almost as though he knew they had only delayed the inevitable

Up there with Iginla and Dionne as best players who never won it

Pat Quinn was with Toronto. I recall the shock on Pat's face when he hears of this trade...

Here a year later as a Joe Thornton life-long fan to point out in the first few minutes that THAT KITTY DUNNO HOW TO SLEEP RIGHT. JUST LAY DOWN, WHYU SLEEPLIN ON YO FOREHEAD LIKE THAT LIL BUDDY? PUT YOUR TUKIS DOWN! Lil buddy is being a very silly goose.

Father time was all time!

NINETEEN!

Jumbo is a class act. He's at all the SJ Barracuda games and around the rink still, always talking to fans and willing to take photos. One of the nicest guys along with one of the best passers and one of the best players the Sharks ever had.

awesome. now do Mike Richards.

That Sharks jersey

I got his autograph as a junior but I lost it.

Kind of a jerk on the ice, but you've gotta respect how great a player he was, especially at passing.

Joe has literally been playing since the day I was born December 26th of 97.

“One of the better players in this league to never win anything” -Torts

JUMBO JAH

Jumbo Joe's first figjt was against Dave Scatchard from the nucks

His NHL career was longer than American war in Afghanistan. by years.

Absolutely criminal showing a beardless thumbnail 😢

The thing that pisses me off about Thornton, he used to step over the centre line when talking with refs while playing the Canucks. I felt it was his form of intimidation/disrespect towards Henrik.

He and Chara were the last athletes from the 4 core sports to play in the 90s, right?

It is November 2023 and he has officially retired.

@TheHockeyGuy Respectively(and rarely)I disagree with 2 points you made, @4:48-5:22. On top of B's making an example of a player who openly criticized management and made himself appear bigger than the club, B's were in last at time of trade. The trade resulted in good draft position as sellers. O'Connell took the heat for trading a future HOFer and Gorton followed through with his original plan. Raycroft was traded, knowing that Tim Thomas was gonna comback from Europe, for a guy named Rask and they traded their 4th&5th for a guy named Marchand. Thomas became the first ever to win a Cup, Vezina and Conn Smythe in 2011, Rask, an Allstar with 2 cup finals and Marchand our future captain. I DONT think Bs win the cup in 2011 if they keep Joe and with Raycroft in net. Thoughts?

As a Sharks fan that got to live in the Bay Area for his entire career, I am glad Boston didnt shop him