Joe Thornton plans to play past 2020-21

San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton apparently doesn’t plan on retiring anytime soon, so let the speculation begin on what’s next for Jumbo Joe. 

Future Hockey Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr skated in the NHL until he was 45-years-old.

That’s astonishing.

What might be another big surprise for hockey fans is that San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton plans on giving Jar a run for his money.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported on Tuesday that Thornton plans to keep playing hockey after this season and it seems that next year might not be his last either.

The 1997 No. 1 overall selection has skated in the NHL since the 1997-98 campaign and has recorded 1509 career points since that time. There’s no doubt that the center goes down as one of the greatest of all-time, if not the best, at his position.

While Jumbo Joe is a first-ballot Hockey Hall of Famer, Olympic Gold Medalist and World Cup champion, the only aspect No. 19 is missing from his hockey resume is a Stanley Cup ring. Regardless of the NHL’s recent postponement to the 2019-20 campaign, the chances are that Thornton won’t collect a Stanley Cup this season.

Keep in mind that the NHL’s No. 7 ranked assist leader of all-time is an unrestricted-free-agent after this season. If Thornton genuinely meant what he said back to LeBrun, then perhaps the 6-foot-4 forward signs with another team other than the Sharks and one that’s a legitimate Stanley Cup contender next season.

The reality of seeing Thornton hoist a Stanley Cup would entail one of the best feel-good stories hockey would have witnessed over the last two decades and arguably counting. One of the greatest skaters to ever lace up the skates and only having the chance to play in one Stanley Cup Final in his illustrious career is unfortunate.

It would also be quite the story if he and former teammate Patrick Marleau were to team up this offseason during UFA and both take a pay cut while signing with a Cup contender.

Now, that’s a story for another time.