Veteran center Joe Thornton is still unsure whether to add another NHL season to his pro career. Had he won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers as he hoped for, the decision would probably be a lot easier. However, the lack of the elusive trophy on his resume could potentially motivate him to give it another go in 2022-23 and return for Season 25.
Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Thornton said that he still hasn’t decided whether to retire and currently “has no plans” regarding his future.
“I have no plans. It’s kind of exciting that way,” said Thornton, who will turn 43 in July. “I came here to win a championship, and we fell short of that. But I think the Florida Panthers are going to be good for a long time. It’s exciting around here now.”
Joe Thornton joined the Panthers on a minimum contract ahead of 2021-22 with hopes that he could get on a championship run with a talented Florida team. Thornton contributed 10 points during the regular season that saw the Panthers finish as the top-seeded team. But despite this, they only made it to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs before being swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Thornton previously played with Boston Bruins, San Jose Sharks, and Toronto Maple Leafs. He won the Art Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy in 2006 while also being selected for All-Star Game six times. The 42-year-old player played a total of 1,714 games in the NHL, totaling 1,539 points.
