NHL Free Agency: Joe Thornton re-signs with San Jose Sharks

Reports began surfacing yesterday that Joe Thornton would be re-signing with the San Jose Sharks. Now today the terms of the contract are coming out, and it is a one-year, $8 million deal.

With most reports coming out yesterday that Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks have come to a deal, many were wondering what the term and salary would be. It was expected to be a short-term contract, and the salary is reportedly going to be $8 million next season.

This $8 million salary is a $1.25 bump up from what he was making on his last contract with the Sharks. His last deal was a three-year, $20.25 million deal that Thornton signed before the start of the 2014-15 season. The new deal is also reportedly coming with a no-movement clause as well, per CapFriendly.

Thornton, who turned 38-years old today, will be the highest paid forward on the San Jose roster. The only other player on the Sharks roster that is able to match his salary is Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Brent Burns, who is signed for the foreseeable future.

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With the Sharks opting not to re-sign veteran forward Patrick Marleau, who signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs today, this left them with some wiggle room to re-sign “Jumbo Joe” for next season. And at $8 million, they are showing that they have full faith in the abilities of the 38-year old still.

Thornton’s contract is well above any other player his age currently in the NHL. The only contracts that are even comparable, when taking age into consideration, are that of Marleau with the Leafs and, to an even lesser extent, Jarome Iginla with the Colorado Avalanche. Marleau may have gotten a longer deal, three years, but his $6.25 million AAV is still just short of $2 million less than what Thornton is slated to make.