1 more year under contract. Will be interesting if he re-signs and continues chasing the Cup with the Sharks or if he decides he'd have a better chance somewhere else.
He believes in the team's ability and loves it here in SJ. I don't think he'll leave.
Dan Marino will never be remembered the way Joe Montana is.
Point taken, but there's a big difference between 0 and 4. Also, anytime this comes up, Dan Marino does stick in everyone's mind as the #1 example, so he is definitely remembered and recognized.
Still has to maintain a decent production level for a few more years to end up around the totals of Oates, but if he does, then they'll probably be rated approx. as equals.
Thornton needs to do something remarkable in his remaining years to achieve any higher status than that.
I think he will end up finishing with better numbers that Oates. He is only 20 or so goals shy, and under 350 points away.
Averaging just 70 pts a year that is less than 5 seasons to reach those marks. I don't think he has any trouble doing that barring additional lockouts or injuries.
His legacy will always be that he is the only player besides Lemieux and Gretzky to post back to back 90 assist seasons. He did this within the last 8 years too!!!!
While his accomplishments so far are great, sadly none of it will matter if he is Cup-less. That is all that people will remember.
I think that factor will become less and less important as we transition from the 21-team era to the 30-team era. Just in the next couple of years we're likely to see Alfredsson and Iginla retire, neither of whom is "defined" but Cup-lessness.
Marcel Dione - 1700+ points.
Guy Lafleur - 1300+ points.
Mike Bossy - 1100+ points.
But it's Lafleur/Bossy and their many cups that are remembered...
That's largely because
A) Lafleur and Bossy played on two of the most dominant teams ever, so they were in a perfect position to build a legacy
B) Dionne actually did have some pretty bad playoff showings. Thornton had some weak ones early, but generally he has been fine in the playoffs. He is not Dionne.
Marcel Dione - 1700+ points.
Guy Lafleur - 1300+ points.
Mike Bossy - 1100+ points.
But it's Lafleur/Bossy and their many cups that are remembered...
Lafleur and Bossy aren't the baseline for being memorable. Dionne, Park, Perreault, Bure, Neely, Oates, all of these guys are remembered and celebrated just fine (Dionne takes by far the most flak for not winning though). Bourque could have retired in 2000 and I wouldn't think any less of him. Not everybody is blessed to play on dynasty teams.
Especially these days when winning a Cup is so much harder and so many great and respected players are going to retire without one. Thornton has been rehabilitating his playoff reputation lately, so I don't see his lack of a Cup being his defining trait. His truly legendary back-to-back 90 assist seasons, his Hart and Art Ross will be his claims to fame.
Since he plays in San Jose - a future trivia question no one gets right.
Great career and those of us who stay up later than 10 pm Eastern time will remember him as a great of his generation. Still plenty time, talent, and organizational stability to get his Cup!
1 more year under contract. Will be interesting if he re-signs and continues chasing the Cup with the Sharks or if he decides he'd have a better chance somewhere else.
Hes at approx 1100 career points, 33 years old been through 1.5 lockouts. The way guys are going now a days and considering he is primarily a play maker we could see him in the league until hes 40. If he manages to get 1500ish points all in the dead puck era how impressive would this be? He seems to be refreshed after the lockout. Remember what he did after the last one But in all honesty his numbers are insane for this era. Could big Joe ever be regarded in the top 10 forwards of all time? top 25? top 50? where do you think his potential is at?
The only player who is playing right now who even can be considered as a top 10 forward of all time already is Crosby.
Great player though. Always forget how good he is until he torches the Wings
Right now he is in the top 30-40 forwards of all time...
If he wins a cup, gets 900 assists and amasses 1400 points...I would put him in the top 20 forwards of all time.
I am rooting for all of this to happen. He is a pleasure to watch and a magician with the puck. Him and Brodeur are my favorite non Avs of all time.
Based only on numbers maybe. I think you would be hard pressed to find many people that wouldnt choose more than 20 forwards ahead of him if they were starting a team though.
Based only on numbers maybe. I think you would be hard pressed to find many people that wouldnt choose more than 20 forwards ahead of him if they were starting a team though.
What about if you had to choose a center to start your team? IF he accomplishes all of the above, what 20 would you go with instead?
