Thornton officially announced his retirement from professional hockey Saturday.
Thornton didn't play in 2022-23, so this announcement is more of a formality. While he never won a Stanley Cup, he was highly successful in his time in the NHL, playing in 1,714 regular-season games -- the most ever for a first-overall pick -- and another 187 playoff contests between the Bruins, Sharks, Maple Leafs and Panthers. He amassed 430 goals, 1,109 assists and 1,272 PIM in the regular season, and he added another 134 points in the postseason. Thornton also earned six All-Star nominations as well as the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy in 2005-06. Internationally, Thornton claimed one Olympic gold medal, two gold medals at the World Cup of Hockey, one gold medal at the World Junior Championship and a silver medal in the 2005 World Championship.
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Panthers' Joe Thornton: Assist after seven games as scratch
Rotowire
Thornton picked up an assist in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Red Wings.
Jumbo Joe played 11:25 after being a healthy scratch the previous seven games. He's no longer a fantasy asset, but he's doing whatever his coach asks in order to fulfill his dream for a Cup.
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Panthers' Joe Thornton: Nets insurance goal
Rotowire
Thornton scored a goal in Friday's 3-0 win over the Ducks.
Thornton struck early in the second period to finish the Panthers' scoring in the game. The 42-year-old has played in three games since returning from an undisclosed injury that kept him out of the lineup for a month and a half. He's up to seven points, 21 shots on net and a minus-10 rating in 27 contests -- while he's a sure Hall-of-Famer, he's not very fantasy-relevant in the twilight of his career.
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Panthers' Joe Thornton: Returning Tuesday
Rotowire
Thornton (undisclosed) will be activated from injured reserve and play Tuesday in San Jose, George Richards of Panthers Press Box reports.
With just six points in 24 games, the 42-year-old isn't exactly a fantasy darling these days, but the fact he's returning from a 13-game absence to face his old team in his old arena Tuesday is headline material. Thornton skated in the top-line right-wing spot at morning skate, so expect him to at least start in a top-six role against the Sharks.
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Panthers' Joe Thornton: Could return Tuesday
Rotowire
Thornton (undisclosed) will "probably" be available Tuesday against the Sharks, David Dwork of Local 10 Miami reports.
Thornton will still need to be removed from injured reserve prior to getting back in the lineup. The veteran center has six points in 24 games this season. He's missed the last 13 games with an undisclosed injury.
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Panthers' Joe Thornton: Skates in non-contact jersey
Rotowire
Thornton (undisclosed) practiced in a non-contact jersey Monday, per Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site.
Thornton has missed the last seven games while dealing with an undisclosed injury. The 42-year-old was struggling through a five-game point drought prior to landing on injured reserve. The next game on the Panthers' schedule is Thursday versus Ottawa.
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Panthers' Joe Thornton: Lands on injured reserve
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Thornton was designated for injured reserve with an undisclosed injury Wednesday, David Dwork of Local 10 Miami reports.
Thornton sat out against the Rangers on Feb. 1 but it appeared at the time the 42-year-old center was just serving as a healthy scratch. Instead, it appears the Ontario native is dealing with a more significant injury. Considering the team can use retroactive IR and Thornton hasn't played since Jan. 31, he could be activated at any time moving forward.
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Panthers' Joe Thornton: Participating Saturday
Rotowire
Thornton will participate in Saturday's game against San Jose, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Thornton has averaged 10:59 of ice time -- 1:27 during the power play -- and recorded six points over 22 appearances this season. The 42-year-old will play in place of Frank Vatrano and likely undertake bottom-six responsibilities, David Dwork of Local 10 Miami adds.
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Panthers' Joe Thornton: Scores on power play Sunday
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Thornton scored a power-play goal in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Avalanche.
Thornton got the Panthers on the board at 7:41 of the third period with his third goal of the season. The 42-year-old center has contributed five points, including two power-play goals, in 16 appearances this year. He's added 13 shots on net, a minus-4 rating and 13 hits while playing in a bottom-six role.
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Panthers' Joe Thornton: Taken off IR
Rotowire
Thornton (undisclosed) was removed from injured reserve Thursday, per NHL.com.
This move indicates that Thornton will most likely suit up against the Devils on Thursday. The 42-year-old forward missed the last eight games while dealing with an injury. He's averaging a career-low 10:26 of ice time with one goal through six games this season.
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Panthers' Joe Thornton: Game-time decision Thursday
Rotowire
Thornton (undisclosed) will be a game-time call to face the Devils on Thursday, David Dwork of Local 10 Miami reports.
Thornton looks poised to return from an eight-game stint on the shelf due to his undisclosed injury. If the 42-year-old center does suit up, it figures to be in a bottom-six role, though he could still be an option for the second power-play unit. If not, fantasy players should expect Maxim Mamin to slide into Thornton's spot in the lineup.
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Panthers' Joe Thornton: Absence to continue
Rotowire
Thornton (undisclosed) will not be ready for Monday's matchup with the Rangers, David Dwork of Local 10 Miami reports.
It will be Thornton's third consecutive game on the shelf resulting from his undisclosed injury. Even once given the all-clear, the 42-year-old center figures to fill a bottom-six role that will limit his fantasy value, though he should still be in line for 20-30 points.
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Panthers' Joe Thornton: Lands on IR
Rotowire
Thornton (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve Saturday.
The specific nature of Thornton's injury remains a mystery, but he'll miss the Panthers' next three contests at a minimum now that he's been placed on injured reserve. The 42-year-old vet has picked up one goal through six games this campaign.
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Panthers' Joe Thornton: Lands first goal in Sunshine State
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Thornton scored a power-play goal on two shots in a 5-3 win over the Coyotes on Monday.
The 42-year-old got the Panthers on the board with 19 seconds left in the first period, taking home a loose puck on the doorstep to make it a 1-1 game. It was Thornton's first goal (and first point) in four games as a Panther. He had five goals and 15 assists in 44 contests in a supporting role for Toronto last season.
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Panthers' Joe Thornton: Back at practice
Rotowire
Thornton (strain) was on the ice for Monday's practice session, Steve Goldstein of Fox Sports Florida reports.
Thornton is entering his 24th NHL season, so he's probably not too concerned about missing a portion of training camp. The 42-year-old veteran figures to take on a bottom-six role with the Panthers as he tries to chase down his first Stanley Cup.
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Panthers' Joe Thornton: Ruled out Friday
Rotowire
Thornton is dealing with a muscular injury that will sideline him for Friday's clash with Dallas, David Dwork of Local 10 Miami reports.
Thornton's injury isn't expected to carry into the start of the regular season. The 42-year-old veteran should slot into a third-line role with his new club and is capable of once against producing in the 30-40 point range with a full 82-game campaign at his disposal.
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Panthers' Joe Thornton: Headed for Sunshine State
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Thornton agreed to terms on a one-year, $750,000 contract with Florida on Friday.
Thornton has accomplished nearly everything in his 23-year NHL career, including winning the Hart Trophy in 2006, the Art Ross Trophy in 2006 and being named to the All-Star Game four times, but still has yet to lift Lord Stanley's cup. It appears the 42-year-old Toronto native believes he might have a chance to do that with the Panthers as he moves to just his fourth NHL franchise but second in as many years. Sitting 14th all-time in NHL points (1529), Jumbo Joe should be able to easily move past Paul Coffey (1531) and Mark Recchi (1533).
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Maple Leafs' Joe Thornton: Strikes with man advantage
Rotowire
Thornton scored a power-play goal on his only shot of the game in Tuesday's 4-0 win over Montreal in Game 4. He also had two PIM.
Thornton redirected a Jason Spezza setup at the side of the net to give the Maple Leafs a commanding 3-0 lead with just over five minutes left in the second period. The goal was the first point of the series for 41-year-old Thornton, who had put together a meager two shots combined over the first three games.
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Maple Leafs' Joe Thornton: Records assist
Rotowire
Thornton notched an assist and went plus-2 in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Canadiens.
Thornton helped out on a Mitch Marner tally at 17:21 of the first period. The 41-year-old Thornton has done reasonably well in 41 games this season with five tallies and 14 helpers. The playmaking forward doesn't add much outside of point production (31 hits, 37 shots on net, plus-6 rating) but he's held value on the ice for the Maple Leafs in a variety of roles.
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Maple Leafs' Joe Thornton: Sets franchise record with goal
Rotowire
Thornton scored a goal Saturday in a 4-1 win over Winnipeg.
Thornton (41 years and 296 days) became the oldest Maple Leafs player to score a goal, passing Allan Stanley (41 years and 252 days), who scored back in 1967. It was an aggressive wraparound in the first period that beat Connor Hellebuyck and inspired teammates. "[Thornton] kind of brought that fire tonight," goalie Jack Campbell said. "He wants to win so bad, and when you see a guy like Joe [giving an effort] like that, it just makes you want to do your job even more." Jumbo Joe has a point in two straight games after going 17 games without. He may offer short-term fantasy help if the fire in his belly continues to burn hot.
