Joe Thornton disappointed he didn’t get moved at NHL trade deadline

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The NHL trade deadline came and went Monday without the San Jose Sharks moving Joe Thornton.

The 40-year-old with a $2 million cap hit had gone public over the weekend with his willingness to waive his no-movement clause in order to join a contending team.

The Bruins, who drafted Thornton No. 1 overall in 1997 and then traded him to the Sharks in 2005, were reportedly among the teams interested in adding Thornton. The Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche might’ve been among the other teams interested in the center, who has 27 points (four goals, 23 assists) in 62 games this season.

But the Sharks traded Patrick Marleau to Pittsburgh and traded Barclay Goodrow to Tampa Bay while keeping Thornton.

“Yeah, obviously I was willing to go somewhere, and try to win my first Stanley Cup,” Thornton told the media Tuesday, including Kevin Kurz of The Athletic. “I’ve been dreaming about that ever since I can remember and it just didn’t come to fruition, for whatever reason. I wanted to get something back for the Sharks obviously to help them continue this process with young guys. It just didn’t work out.”

Pierre Lebrun of TSN tweeted that the interest in Thornton from contenders might not have been as strong as previously reported.

There was interest in Thornton yesterday, from 3-4 teams, but I don't think they were the elite Cup contending teams he would have waived for. Which is to say, I don't believe Boston, Vegas or Colorado inquired with San Jose. https://t.co/XUTTw1RJR7

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 25, 2020

So Thornton will play out the string this year with the Sharks, who are 14 points out of a playoff spot, and then decide his fate. He said he thinks he’ll keep playing, but obviously he’ll continue for at least another year without a Stanley Cup on his resume.

“I wanted a shot, you know? Believe it or not,” Thornton said. “I’ve been hunting this thing down for 22 years, so I wanted another shot at it. I wanted to get something (for the Sharks) in return. It just didn’t work out. Back to the grind, and that’s how it is.”

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