Joe Thornton

Joe Thornton

Joseph Eric Thornton (born July 2, 1979) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected first overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft and went on to play seven seasons with the club, three as its captain. During the 2005–06 season, he was traded to the Sharks. Splitting the campaign between the two teams, he received the Art Ross and Hart Memorial Trophies as the league's leading point-scorer and most valuable player, respectively. Thornton would go on to another 14 seasons with the Sharks, including 4 seasons as team captain and a run to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, before joining the Maple Leafs in 2020. Thornton's on-ice vision, strength on the puck, deft passing ability and power forward style of play have led to him becoming one of the league's premier top line centres. He is widely regarded as one of the best passers of all-time, and is one of only 13 players in history with 1,000 NHL assists. His nickname "Jumbo Joe" is a nod to his large stature and to Jumbo the elephant who once performed in St. Thomas, Ontario, where Thornton was raised.

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