Joe Thornton’s Sharks legacy one of joy, and heartbreak: ‘It was so close, but so far away’
Former San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan: "It's too bad that we couldn't win here with him in that uniform."
SAN JOSE – Todd McLellan became the winningest coach in Sharks history with Joe Thornton as his No. 1 centerman.
From 2008 to 2015, the two won three division titles together, a President’s Trophy, advanced to the Western Conference finals two times, and won more regular-season games than all but two other NHL teams.
But McLellan, now the coach of the Los Angeles Kings, regrets that the two weren’t able to win a Stanley Cup together.
“It’s a crime that we … it’s too bad that we couldn’t win (in San Jose) with him in that uniform,“ McLellan said. “But maybe he’s got a chance this year with his team.”
Thornton, who signed with Florida in August after he played one season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, returns to play a game at SAP Center for the first time in over two years Tuesday when the Sharks host the Atlantic Division-leading Panthers.
Thornton, 42, is expected to be activated off of injured reserve Tuesday and the Sharks before the game will pay tribute to him similar to the way they honored franchise icons Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski in seasons past.
“It’s always fun, the homecoming games for players,” Panthers interim coach Andrew Brunette said, “and I hope they give him the tribute he deserves.”
Thornton’s legacy in San Jose is one of both success and heartbreak.
Between 2005 and 2020, Thornton led San Jose to 13 playoff appearances, four trips to the Western Conference finals, and one appearance in the Cup final once in 2016. He transformed the franchise from one that had simply enjoyed some successful years prior to his arrival to a team that was regularly considered among the NHL’s best.
The Sharks had the best regular-season record of any NHL team over Thornton’s 15-year tenure and, in a testament to his popularity and the team’s success, sold out their downtown arena 205 straight times from Dec. 2009 to Oct. 2014.
“My first year I was thinking, ‘Wow, this is easy. You get to play in the final four every year,’” said Sharks captain Logan Couture, who made his NHL debut in 2009. “I was very fortunate to play on those teams. I remember Jumbo, Patty (Marleau) and Dany Heatley were a great line together. Jumbo, Patty, and (Devin) Setoguchi, yeah, just a lot of good memories. Good hockey, fun hockey.
“The building was always so loud. Thinking back now, it brings back a lot of good memories. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the final job done.”
That sentiment is one shared by others who played with Thornton as a Shark. They just wish they could have won it all with him.
Tomas Hertl thinks back to his rookie season in 2013-14 when the Sharks had a 3-0 first-round series lead over the Kings, only to lose the next four games. Los Angeles went on to beat Anaheim, Chicago, and the New York Rangers to win its second Cup.
Hertl also suffered a knee injury in Game 2 of the 2016 Cup final against Pittsburgh, a potentially series-altering development.
“I’d be talking, maybe if I don’t get hurt, maybe that changes the whole thing,” Hertl said. “It was so close but so far away.”
“You look back on those teams and some special teams with some very good players,” said Couture, who has known Thornton for close to 20 years.
“It just really proves how tough it is to win the Stanley Cup in this league and we wish a few of those years could have gone differently. They didn’t. But we’ll always cherish those years for sure.”
McLellan said Tuesday’s game shouldn’t be the last time the Sharks honor Thornton.
“There better be a hole in the rafters there to lower number 19 down in my opinion,” he said, “and there’s no better legacy than that.”
HILL HURT: Two days after he had a 29-save shutout, goalie Adin Hill did not practice Monday and is considered doubtful for Tuesday’s game with a lower-body injury. Hill missed 15 games with a lower-body injury before he played Saturday against the Kings in a 5-0 Sharks win. Sharks coach Bob Boughner is hoping that James Reimer will be available to play Tuesday. Reimer, who has missed the last four games with his own lower-body injury, was a full participant in Monday’s practice.
LEONARD RECALLED: The Sharks recalled forward John Leonard from the Barracuda on Monday and it appears he’ll start Tuesday’s game on the top line with Hertl and Alexander Barabanov. Leonard had 17 goals and 32 points in 45 games with the Barracuda this season. He turned it on in the last 10 weeks with 14 goals and 11 assists in his previous 24 games. In six AHL games this month, Leonard had six goals and five assists.