Which contenders would be the best fit for … This season started in San Jose with Stanley Cup expectations as the team tried to make another run at a championship. The source indicated the Penguins have at least kicked the tires with San Jose GM Doug Wilson, in addition to the other teams listed. The last time a potential Joe Thornton trade was even conceivable was back in 2014. Not even close to Thornton level. ET): Joe Thornton isn't going to a contender, after all. “You know, it is,” Thornton said, when asked whether he is tempted to go to a contender. The question is can he keep those numbers up or will his play continue to regress, making him more of a liability on the ice. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. The Bruins were no exception, looking to erase memories of another clattering playoff exit in the 2003-2004 season. That could indicated another scenario if Thornton prefers to remain in San Jose to end his career. "He has a full 'no move' clause, but the Sharks would like to give him the opportunity to win a Stanley Cup," Garrioch wrote. Regardless, they will likely dip into the free-agency pool a little bit to bolster a depleted roster, but will most likely have to focus on improving their defense and adding a more reliable goaltender who take take some of the pressure off of Jones. You can look at these happenings two ways: To put it simply, if the Bruins keep Thornton, they don’t end up with Chara, Savard, and Kessel. You don’t trade your best player for pennies on the dollar because of a bad playoff series or a lost faceoff. The team could still trade the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent to a contender before the deadline, allowing him to chase a Stanley Cup with the possibility the Sharks might be able to re-sign him in the offseason once again. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (PA/IL) or 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN only) or 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA only) or 1-800-522-4700 (CO Only). The Bruins absolutely should not have traded Joe Thornton. So, the question isn’t whether the Sharks want him, but whether Thornton wants to return. Instead, the wheels fell off with the team struggling immensely. The team suffered through a number of injuries this season, but their most devastating loss was top scorer Tomas Hertl, who tore his ACL and MCL in his left knee during a game on Jan. 29. Even if the league does go with a 24-team playoffs, the Sharks would be on the outside looking in, so they have to  hope their star players can bounce back. However, with just two days left, Thornton admitted to The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz (subscription required) that he is tempted to join a contending team, although the 40-year-old forward also made it clear in the interview that his career is not over yet. Great Debate: Murray vs. Jarry and the Penguins Future Plans, The 1:42 That Saved the Pittsburgh Penguins Season: Complete Analysis, Breaking Bad: Analyzing the Pittsburgh Penguins Breakdowns, League Official Tells PHN: Bubble Cities Possible for 2021, PHN Blog: The Penguins End, Covering an Empty Arena, Photos from TO, Here We Go! Where will the relief come from. At the time of the trade, Thornton was doing his best to carry the Bruins. We'll never pass along your email address to spammers, scammers, or the like. It would be no surprise if they have more moves to come, but would San Jose really trade its all-time assists leader in what possibly could his final season in the NHL? F Melker Karlsson – The long-time bottom-six forward could be looking for another team as the Sharks must decided whether Karlsson’s lack of numbers is worth holding onto. Thornton reportedly had interest from several teams -- including his former club, the Boston Bruins -- ahead of the deadline. But Thornton is still a strong possession player and continues to make you snap your head and say “wow” when he threads a pass through several defenders. Even at age 40, he still managed to score 31 points, while averaging 15:30 of ice time. It’s not like a last-hurrah-type thing. [RELATED: How Sharks can benefit from injuries at NHL trade deadline]. What if the Bruins hadn’t traded Joe Thornton? He will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season, coming off his entry-level deal. It’s just as possible that you’re still … He managed to appear in 20 games with one goal and seven points, serving mainly as the team’s fourth-line center. How will the Sharks be impacted heading into the Noon deadline? Your privacy is safe with us. Haggerty: Is Thornton the Bruins' next move before deadline. The trade altered the franchise. What type of contract Labanc receives will be interesting to see, but the forward is still considered to be a significant piece to their core and must return to his 2018-19 form if the team hopes to improve on its dismal season last year. ET. On Joe Thornton, the Boston Bruins hold him in high regard but they have some other targets ahead of him on their list. The seeds were planted for a Thornton trade likely as early as the 2004 playoffs when the No. Minnesota Wild: Breaking down the return for Jason Zucker, Red WIngs All-Time Top Free Agent Singings, NHL trade rumors: Vancouver Canucks linked to Wayne Simmonds, Gordon Hayward Rumors: Celtics 'Very Interested' in Long-Term Contract with SF, NHL trade rumors: Florida Panthers shopping Mike Hoffman, NHL trade rumors: Oilers, Penguins interested in Tomas Tatar, NHL trade rumors: Top 3 teams who should trade for Sami Vatanen, Top 25 Super Bowl Performances of All Time, Each NHL Team's Most Likely Future Hall of Famer, 30 Greatest Teams in Premier League History, 28 most memorable buzzer beaters in March Madness history. If the Bruins don’t trade Thornton, they don’t sign. on. Join PHN+ today for exclusive content from Dan and Shelly plus a completely Google ad-free experience. We’ll see if that’s the case, but Labanc’s production didn’t jump off the charts like many had hoped. If the Bruins keep Thornton, they likely pick in the middle of the first round, instead of in the top 5. Even though it is referred to as the trade deadline in the NHL, this Monday was not actually that. In fact, the 24-year-old finished with a disappointing 2019-20 season, posting just 14 goals and 33 points in 70 games, significantly less than the 56 points he produced the previous year. Thornton, of course, remained productive for the Sharks for the next several years, recording 114, 96, 86, and 89 points, respectively. Build your custom FanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis on Puck Prose and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Thornton reportedly had interest from several teams -- including his former club, the Boston Bruins -- ahead of the deadline.-- End of update --The Boston Bruins have hours remaining to make a deal before Monday's 3 p.m. Don’t miss it! Even with the Tyler Seguin trade, there were people who argued that it wasn’t the worst, that there were silver linings, etc. (They also drafted Milan Lucic and Brad Marchand in later rounds, so...good draft!). According to Sportsnet's Eric Engels, the veteran San Jose Sharks winger remains on the Bruins' radar ahead of the deadline. The trade was bad. San Jose locked up Martin Jones in 2017 to be their long-term goalie for the next six years, but with four years still on his contract, the team has to wonder if Jones is that answer. F Kevin Labanc – The only significant restricted free agent the team needs to sign is Labanc, who surprised quite a few people when he signed a one-year, $1MM bargain contract last offseason with many expecting he took a low deal with the assumption he would be rewarded with a long-term deal the following year. After making $2MM this season he will likely have to take another pay cut to stay in the league. They owe him that much. Alex Stalock| Bobby Ryan| Connor McDavid| Corey Crawford| Curtis Lazar| Evgeni Malkin| Henrik Lundqvist| Jacob Markstrom| James Reimer| Jarred Tinordi| Jay Bouwmeester| Joe Thornton| Jonathan Quick| Josh Harding| Kevan Miller| Mark Giordano| Mark Letestu| Michal Kempny| Nathan Gerbe| Noel Acciari| Oskar Lindblom| Robby Fabbri| Ryan Miller| Shea Theodore| Shea Weber| Stephen Johns| Thomas Hickey| Travis Zajac| Zach Hyman, May 16, 2020 at 3:57 pm CDT | by Holger Stolzenberg 2 Comments. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. 7 seed. I feel good, and my mind feels great. Longtime Shark Thornton has also been in trade rumors recently, but has a no-movement clause, which means that if Thornton is traded, it will be at his request. You could argue that they don’t even get Chara, as rumors say that the captaincy was one of the things that enticed Chara to sign here. The Bruins still have all of their future draft picks with the exception of their 2020 first- and fourth-rounders and intriguing prospects like Jack Studnicka and Urho Vaakanainen, so there's plenty in Sweeney's arsenal if he wants to improve the NHL's current best team before 3 p.m. The award has been voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association since 1968, and today they announced their nominees for 2019. Joe Thornton is likely to be traded at the deadline for a chance to win the Stanley Cup before his career comes to an end. Other “big fish” out there that summer included a guy like Brendan Shanahan, but that was about it. This time he only carries a $2MM cap hit though, making him much easier to fit into a team’s finances.