Even without a Stanley Cup, Joe Thornton should hang up his skates

With major trouble in each knee over the last two seasons, and approaching 39 years old, it’s time for Joe Thornton to retire.

After the San Jose Sharks’ postseason run ended, some injury postmortem has come to light. Joe Thornton only played 47 regular season games this year (none after Jan. 23), and he did not play in any playoff games. According to the San Jose Mercury News, the 38-year old had a fully torn ACL and MCL in his right knee to keep him out of action.

Last year Thornton played through a torn ACL and MCL during the playoffs, but in his left knee. He ultimately returned to the Sharks on a one-year deal last summer, amid interest from several other teams, and he told Paul Gackle of the Bay Area News Group he’s open to returning to San Jose again on a one-year deal at a reduced salary.

Thornton is no longer worthy of a place on San Jose’s, or anyone else’s, top two lines. But seven of his 13 goals this season came on the power play, as did half of his points (18). So his playing time could focus on the man advantage, while dropping a bit from the 18 minute per-game level he’s maintained in recent years.

But with nothing left to accomplish, other than win an elusive Stanley Cup, it’s time for Thornton to call it a career.

Thornton is 16th on the NHL’s all-time list in points (1,427), and he’s 12th all-time in assists with 1,030. He needs 11 more assists to move into the top-10 all-time in that category, passing Mario Lemieux and Marcel Dionne along that way, and he needs 30 points to tie Teemu Selanne for 15th all-time.

Reaching those marks may be important to Thornton, which points to him playing one last season alongside the pursuit of a Stanley Cup. Even in a greatly shortened 2017-18 campaign, Thornton posted 36 points with 23 assists.

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But a greatly diminished Thornton, coming off major injuries to each knee in successive seasons, stands to be a sad sight next season. Sharks fans, and Bruins fans who fondly remember Thornton at the start of his career, surely don’t want that as their last image of an all-time great.