Joe Thornton is a free agent. You know what team means? It’s time to speculate whether or not his time in San Jose is over or not. This is a narrative we’ve heard for years, but after the team went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016, it’s even more difficult than ever to imagine Thornton playing anywhere else. Could it happen this summer?
Who is he?
Joe Thornton is one of the greatest playmakers in the sport’s history. He’s played 19 seasons in the NHL now, amassing 1391 points over 1446 games with the San Jose Sharks and Boston Bruins. The former 1997 first overall pick also became the 13th player ever to record 1000 assists at the NHL level this season, easily the most impressive accomplishment on his Hall of Fame resume.
The only thing missing? A Stanley Cup.
Thornton and the Sharks came close to winning it all in 2016 after years and years of choking in the playoffs, but were dispatched in the first round by the Oilers this time around. The Sharks are certainly still build to be good for quite some time, as made evident by the eight-year, $64 million extension they handed out to Brent Burns a few months ago, but it’s hard not to wonder how much Thornton has left in the tank.
This season was the worst of his career since being deal to the Sharks. He scored seven goals and 43 assists in 79 games, good for 0.63 point-per-game, which is better only than his first two seasons in the league. But part of that could also be the Sharks playing a more conservative style than they have in the past, as Thornton posted a 53.9 Corsi For percentage (+3.1 relative to the team) this year, which is worse than what he’s produced in the past, but is still indicative of a player who can contribute.
But beyond his declining production numbers, there’s also the issue of injury. Thornton hurt himself in the final game of the season and missed the first two games of the first round of the playoffs before coming back and playing through a torn ACL and MCL. That’s, uh, that’s pretty incredible. He underwent successful surgery and will apparently be ready for the beginning of the season, but damn, how much longer can this guy keep trucking?
How much is he going to cost?
Back in July 2013, the Red Wings singed Pavel Datsyuk, who was coming off of a 49 points in 47 games season, to a three-year contract extension worth $7.5 million annually that began in his 36-year-old season. Jarome Iginla his free agency as a 37-year-old, and signed a three-year deal worth $5,333,333 annually. Jaromir Jagr is signing one-year deals well into his 40s worth upwards to $5.5 million depending on bonuses, while Shane Doan signed a $4,836,572 contact to play for the Coyotes at the age of 40.
What does all of that mean? Old players who can still produce will get paid. And Joe Thornton, while he isn’t going to produce a point-per-game like he used to, is still going to produce. He’s coming off a three-year deal that paid him $6.75 million annually. He won’t get that three-year term again, and will likely either take a one-year deal in the ballpark of $4 or $5 million or something slightly less over two years.
Can San Jose afford it?
The Sharks have their core locked into next season, the only major decisions are whether or not they’ll keep Thornton and Patrick Marleau around. They have a handful of restricted free agents, like Melker Karlsson, Joonas Donskoi, and Mirco Mueller, but it won’t cost much to get them locked up again. Another wrinkle for the Sharks is the expansion draft, in which they’ll like end up losing one of Joel Ward, Mikkel Boedker, Justin Braun, Brenden Dillon, Paul Martin, or David Schlemko. I have no idea who they’ll protect and leave exposed beyond the obvious group of key players, but the reality is they’ll lose one of those aforementioned players, leaving the Sharks with a hole to fill this summer.
Anyways, the Sharks have about $56 million tied into the majority of their roster. Like I said, a new hole will be created and cap room will be freed up depending on who Vegas snags, but San Jose, as usual, is in a good position financially. They certainly have the cap room to keep Thornton around next season, and for all we know, he may take a team discount and come in cheaper than he’s worth on the open market.
But long term? The Sharks have to worry about giving two very important players, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Martin Jones, new deals next summer. But still, the Sharks have handled their cap well, don’t have any hideous contracts (no, we aren’t going to complain about the Burns deal), and have the core of their team locked up at a reasonable amount. They’re getting older, and their window to win is right now, so it does make a lot of sense for Thornton to return to the team on a short-term deal. You know he wants to bring a Cup to San Jose.
If he hits the open market…
If you’re a contender one or two pieces away from winning it all or a team on the cusp of getting good in need of a veteran leader who can actually make the team better, Joe Thornton is at the top of your list this summer. Honestly, who wouldn’t want this guy on their team? Thornton’s teammates have raved about him, he’s silenced critics with his excellent playoff performance in 2016 (and this spring battling through that ACL and MCL injury, damn), and he’s still a good player.
Still, though, it’s hard to imagine Thornton playing for anybody other than Sharks. He’s said openly that he loves playing there, and the team’s makeup is largely constructed around him. But if things don’t work out and San Jose decides to go a different route, Toronto could use some of their hoards and hoards of cap space on a veteran to help them win sooner rather than later. This playoff series against the Ducks has made it clear Edmonton could use a veteran down the middle. Nashville also has a big hole down the middle behind Ryan Johansen, as does St. Louis. There will be interest around the league, there’s no doubt about that.
Other free agent profiles:
Forwards: T.J. Oshie, Nick Bonino, Alexander Radulov, Brian Boyle
Defencemen: Michael Del Zotto, Kevin Shattenkirk, Karl Alzner
Goalies: Ben Bishop, Ryan Miller
He is what? 64 years old?
My mom says you have very good spelling!!!
Keep up the great work Batman.
Oh say hi to your mom from me. Don’t forget to get her a little something tomorrow, son.
Tell your mom to book your tickets to the Oilers Classic Golf Tournament next week! Hurry! After the catastrophic choke last night, you might not be able to buy tickets if you wait too long!!!
Wait I’ve been reading your name wrong this whole time I thought it said “SedansForever500” and that you were just a little obsessed with sedans for some reason but… you’re a fan of the SEDINS? Like the bust twins themselves? And you’re making fun of the OILERS for choking? lol
Karl Alzner please
No thanks
It would be great to have jumbo joe as an oiler but I think Edmonton needs a scoring winger more importantly, Edmonton should go after Boyle in the offseason for the big centre face off guy they need, and also go after TJ Oshie for a scoring winger with a right handed shot for the PP as well, I think Connor and Oshie would tear it up!
Who cares how old he is. He does his job every night and he sure gave the Oilers a tough time. If they can sign him for a year around $2.5-$3 million then do it. He can play 3rd C and on the PP. He’s an excellent passer, playmaker and wins face-offs, something that the Oilers don’t have.
Batman knows absolutely nothing about hockey and everything about spelling.
I posted this on Oilersnation. WTF it’s showing up on the garbage Flamesnation site I have no idea
Sign him, Marleau, Shattenkirk, Bonino, I don’t care!! I am just soo frickin happy we actually have shots at these top tier FAs now
Cam solid article as usual. I apologise for going off topic a little here. But most leafs would have a million dollars now if they got a dollar from all the leaf haters who would remind them of the greatest choke in the third period of a playoff game. Well as the broadcasting crew so astutely pointed out last night, that title now belongs to the Edmonton Oilers who coughed up 3 goals in the last few minutes of the third period. Sure the ref could have changed his mind on the goalie interference but he didn’t so I’m sure the WAAAAAAAAAAAAMBULANCE well be heard for years.
Heh Oiler fans just ask for a dollar every time some hockey fan reminds you that your team now has the greatest choke of all time. You soon will be rich.
How did Brent Burns just sign an 8 year contract for $8 Million, at 32 years of age, when everyone know defencemen peak at 24 years of age? Analytics tell us he has to have been in decline for the last 8 years……At a dollar a pop, the number of times the Flames fans alone, remind them of the biggest choke in hockey history, would add up to a pretty penny.
How far down the road is Giordano then? Defencemen seem to peak much later than 24 imo but what do I know I am not an analytics guru.
“You said I have a 50-50 chance of winning a coin toss, well I lost, so you’re all wrong”
You mean greater than Calgary’s 0-4 sweeping by the ducks?
Joel Ward is going to be unprotected for the expansion draft? Trade for that guy!
Yep.
Thornton would be a great fit on a line with the Sedins!!
I agree. The “geriatric ” line…. that will get the cannots into a perpetual rebuild mode.
Nucks nedical staff will have to check the top line for dimentia as part of their annual checkup……
let the oilers have him
Oilers don’t need him.they have a younger version of Thornton in Draisaitl.
I’d sign him to a 2 year big pay day. Even if he isn’t the same after his surgery he’d be a great guy for the room and a great mentor to the young players.