The gnarliest playoff beards in the history of every NHL franchise

The gnarliest playoff beards in the history of every NHL team

MONTREAL, QC - MAY 25: Lanny McDonald #9 of the Calgary Flames hugs the Stanley Cup Trophy in the locker room after the Flames defeated the Montreal Canadiens in Game 6 of the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals on May 25, 1989 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images) /

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DENVER, CO – JANUARY 18: San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton (19) waits for a face-off during a regular season game between the Colorado Avalanche and the visiting San Jose Sharks on January 18, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. (Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

San Jose Sharks: Joe Thornton

Jumbo Joe Thornton has arguably the best all-around beard on this list. Full, luscious, a touch of grey. More importantly, Thornton has the skill to back up the look. At the age of 39, Jumbo Joe is still a very productive hockey player. He had 36 points in 47 games this 2017-18 season before injuring himself on January 23rd.

Joe Thornton is the only player in NHL history to have won the Art Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy during a season in which he played for two teams. Boston Bruins general manager Mike O’Connell infamously traded Thornton midway through his most successful season for a bag of pucks and a washing machine, while the Bruins rebuilt the team around Patrice Bergeron.

O’Connell would go on to state that he would make the trade again and was relieved that the Bruins won a Stanley Cup before the San Jose Sharks did. Which makes a ton of sense since the players he traded for were a big part of Boston’s 2011 Stanley Cup. Oh wait. They weren’t? They were long gone by then? Hmm.

Jumbo Joe will forever be known for his elite vision on the ice and fantastic passing ability. He’s one of three players in NHL history to amass 90 assists in back-to-back seasons. The other two are named Gretzky and Lemieux, meaning Thornton is in pretty good company. While he can’t quite reach them in all-time scoring (Thornton sits in 16th), the one thing Joe will always have over Gretzky and Lemieux is his ability to grow a fabulous beard.

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