Thornton signs for league minimum to chase a Stanley Cup championship

Go get that mug, Jumbo!

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 2 years ago
Thornton signs for league minimum to chase a Stanley Cup championship
Zuma Press

This just in, veteran forward Joe Thornton has signed a one year contract with the surging Florida Panthers.

Check it out:



Sportsnet NHL insider Chris Johnston is reporting that the deal is for a league minimum $750,000 salary.



"With more than 1,600 games played in the NHL, Joe will bring a wealth of experience to our locker room and lineup," said Panthers GM Bill Zito in a prepared 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."

Thornton, of course, "came home" to play for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs last season, putting up five goals and 20 points in 44 games for the team. At 42 years old the future Hall of Famer proved that he still has some tricks up his sleeve and I fully expect him to put up points on a surging Panthers team in 2021-22.

More from the Panthers' official press release announcement:

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

More details to come, including contract details.