NHL legend traded by Bruins for now-coach elected to Hockey Hall of Fame
Aside from Zdeno Chara (Bruins) and Jack Parker (Boston University) being elected to the Hall of Fame, Joe Thornton also received the call.
Advertisement
Thornton finished his 24-year long career with 430 goals, 1,109 assists in 1,714 games played across eight seasons with the Bruins, 15 with the San Jose Sharks and a season each with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers.
Thornton was selected first overall by the Bruins in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. He was named captain of the team prior to the 2002-03 season.
While he became an integral part of the lineup, things soured between the two sides when Thornton became a restricted free agent when the NHL resumed in 2005-06 after the 2004-05 season-long lockout.
Thornton and the Bruins ultimately came to terms on a three-year deal in August before he was part of one of the most stunning trades in team history three months later.
Advertisement
The Bruins traded Thornton to the Sharks in exchange for Wayne Primeau and defenseman Brad Stuart, Mike O'Connell and now-Bruins coach Marco Sturm.
'The Joe Thornton trade, I mean, it was not my fault, right?' Sturm joked at his introductory press conference earlier this month.
Thornton was named the Hart Trophy recipient as the NHL's MVP for the 2005-06 season.
The NHL legend ranks 14th all-time in points, seventh in assists and sixth in games played. He's just one of 14 players to reach the 1,000-assist mark and became the seventh player to play in 1,500 games with 1,000 helpers and at 400 goals.
Advertisement
The Sharks decided to retire Thornton's No. 12 in 2024. It was just the second time they retired a number — the first being Patrick Marleau in 2023.
More Bruins content
Read the original article on MassLive.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What Could Happen if Maple Leafs File Mitch Marner Tampering Complaint
What Could Happen if Maple Leafs File Mitch Marner Tampering Complaint originally appeared on Athlon Sports. If Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner ends up signing with the Vegas Golden Knights as a free agent on July 1, things might get messy. Advertisement On Sunday's episode of Sportsnet's "32 Thoughts" podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Maple Leafs are seriously considering filing a tampering complaint against Vegas. That may happen, but only if the Knights land Marner shortly after the start of free agency on Tuesday without a sign-and-trade. 'There's been some talk that if Marner goes to Vegas, the Maple Leafs will go after Vegas for tampering,' Friedman said. Friedman clarified that he has no proof of illegal contact between the sides but warned that 'teams are extremely sensitive about it,' and a few general managers believe the NHL is 'itching to try and make an example out of someone.' Advertisement The Leafs have explored a potential sign-and-trade with Vegas that could send Nicolas Roy to Toronto, according to Friedman. 'If they make a deal with Toronto and send a good player or two to Toronto, I'm betting any chance the Maple Leafs file for tampering goes away,' Friedman said. If no sign-and-trade occurs heading into the opening of the free agency and Marner signs quickly with Vegas, Toronto could argue that discussions occurred prematurely. That would be a direct violation of league rules, which prohibit contract talks with players under contract before the official start of free agency, set for noon ET on Tuesday. Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner jumps during warm-ups before a game against the Ottawa Turchiaro-Imagn Images The consequences, if tampering is proved, are severe and could impact both Marner and the Golden Knights. Advertisement According to league policy, via Sportsnet (h/t @PuckReportNHL), the Golden Knights could be fined up to $5 million, forfeit draft picks and see Marner's contract voided. The NHL could also award compensation to the Leafs, and Marner himself could face a $1 million fine or a possible suspension or expulsion from the league. Related: Maple Leafs GM Breaks Silence on Reported Mitch Marner-Golden Knights Trade Chatter Related: John Tavares Keeps 'Realistic' Mindset on Mitch Marner-Maple Leafs Situation This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mitch Marner's 'Vitriolic' Maple Leafs Exit Draws Vince Carter Comparison
Mitch Marner's 'Vitriolic' Maple Leafs Exit Draws Vince Carter Comparison originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Mitch Marner is officially no longer a Toronto Maple Leaf, and his exit from Ontario is already being described as one of the most contentious in recent Toronto sports history. Advertisement After spending his first nine seasons in the NHL with his hometown team, Marner was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday in a sign-and-trade that saw the star winger ink a maximum eight-year, $96 million contract. Speaking on TSN's "OverDrive" on Monday, NHL analyst Bryan Hayes drew an interesting comparison to Vince Carter's 2004 departure from the NBA's Toronto Raptors. 'I can't think of a more polarizing superstar in the city in recent years,' Hayes said. 'I can't think of a more vitriolic exit for a superstar in my lifetime.' Hayes said while Marner didn't quit on the Leafs in the way Carter was perceived to have quit on the Raptors, it was clear he wanted out. Advertisement 'I'd love to know when (Marner) made up this decision,' Hayes said. 'It would appear to me it was last summer he decided, 'I'm out of here.' 'Maybe it was going to Vegas, and he knew it was going to be available to him. But he didn't demand out like Vince. He didn't quit on them. … Vince quit.' Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner had a career-high 102 points in Carey Lauder-Imagn Images While Carter didn't publicly demand a trade, he was accused of playing badly on purpose to force the front office to trade him away. Fellow analyst Jeff O'Neill echoed the sentiment that Marner's time in Toronto never sat quite right in terms of his public perception. 'Marner was a fantastic player, he was paid a lot — appropriately paid, "O'Neill said. "But I never understood his PR with the way he just, it seemed like he always had this thing where he was kind of getting screwed somehow and I never really understood that. Advertisement 'People were always all over him, or he was getting the short end of the stick, or something, I don't know." The Golden Knights sent center Nicolas Roy to the Leafs as part of the deal, while Marner immediately signed the largest contract in Golden Knights history. Related: What Could Happen if Maple Leafs File Mitch Marner Tampering Complaint Related: Matthew Tkachuk's Four-Word Message After $64 Million Sam Bennett News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hamilton Spectator
15 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Vancouver Canucks sign goalie Thatcher Demko, winger Conor Garland to extensions
VANCOUVER - All-star goalie Thatcher Demko and winger Conor Garland are staying in Vancouver, signing extensions with the Canucks on Tuesday. Demko inked a three-year, US$25.5-million deal, while Garland signed a six-year, $36-million contract. Both players are heading into the final season of five-year contracts and were set to become unrestricted free agents next summer. Demko is coming off an injury-plagued 2024-25 campaign where he posted a 10-8-3 record with a .889 save percentage, a 2.90 goals-against average and one shutout. The 29-year-old goalie from San Diego, Cali., was named a finalist for last year's Vézina Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL's top goaltender, after going 35-14-2 with a .918 save percentage and a 2.45 GAA during the 2023-204 campaign. Garland, a 29-year-old right-winger from Scituate, Mass., put up 50 points (19 goals, 31 assists) for the Canucks this past season. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 1, 2025.
