5 players the San Jose Sharks could trade before the deadline
1. C Joe Thornton
Thornton keeps coming back to the Sharks, as he looks to add to his Hall of Fame resume with an elusive Stanley Cup win. He has a full no-move clause in his contract, so as the team’s already flailing playoff chances get worse after Hertl’s season-ending injury the idea of “Jumbo Joe” waiving that no-trade clause is a natural topic of conversation.
Before Hertl was injured, Thornton was asked about waiving his no-move clause.
“I really, I need to think about that,” Thornton said. “Obviously, this little homestand is going to be important for our team. But I haven’t thought about it at all. I’m just trying to win games here and see how it goes.”
Here’s Joe Thornton’s full quote when asked if he’d be open to going somewhere else before the trade deadline: pic.twitter.com/OggVQIuT1H
— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) January 26, 2020
In his “31 Thoughts” column this week Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet suggested Thornton has opened the door to trade talks, while adding his opinion that the only way the Sharks would consider a move is if he requested it. Hertl’s injury has almost certainly pushed the conversation forward from both sides in recent days.
A return to the Boston Bruins, where he started his career, feels possible for Thornton if he’s willing to move on. He will probably have to accept being a third or more likely a fourth line center anywhere he goes, but if it means a legit chance to skate with the Cup in June, Thornton should approve a trade easily at some point over the next few weeks.
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