The last time center Joe Thornton played a game in the NHL was for the Florida Panthers in the 2021-22 season. Many believed he hung up the skates for good and just walked off into the sunset. Many still wonder if Thornton would skate again. Reappear on some team’s roster looking for a veteran for the playoff push. The wondering has come to an end as Thornton through a video sent to the San Jose Sharks organization where he played 15 season, officially hangs skates after 24 seasons.

“Judging by how many people keep asking me, I guess I have to tell you, I’m officially retiring from the NHL. I thought you guys would figure it out sooner, but you kept asking so here I am retiring. I have so much love for the game of hockey and for the countless number of people that helped this kid’s dream become a reality. If you’re looking for me, you know where to find me. I’ll be at the rink.”

Joe’s video was posted at the Shark Tank, home of the San Jose Shark,s as he is shirtless in the video with his iconic beard wearing his retirement beach bum style hat. Soaking in the sun he looks to be living the high life.

Joe Thornton was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins in 1997, number 1 overall. Thornton would be traded to the San Jose Sharks during the 2005-06 season when he won the Art Ross trophy leading the league in goals. Thornton skated with the Sharks during the teams hey day when they were a staple every year in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Thornton was on that Sharks team that had the best record in the NHL in the 2008-09 season. Thornton was on those Sharks teams that went back to back years in the conference finals in 2010 and 2011. Thornton also helped the Sharks reached their first Stanley Cup in 2016 when they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins. After 15 seasons in San Jose, he concluded his career skating for the Maple Leafs for one season and finished with the Florida Panthers. Thornton did help the Maple Leafs reach the Western conference finals in 2019.

Joe Thornton leaves his mark on the NHL. Thornton ranks 7th all-time in assists, 12th in points, and 6th in games played. Thornton laced up the skates for 1,714 regular season games as he had 430 goals while dishing out 1,109 assists for a grand total of 1,539 points. Thornton is a 4x All-star. He won the Hart Trophy in 2010. Thornton also helped his country, Canada, get the gold metal in the 2010 Olympics. For the Sharks, Thornton leaves his mark on the organization as he is number 2 all-time in games played, #2. in total points, #4. in goals scored, and number 1 in assists.

Joe Thornton is for sure a first ballot Hall of Fame center and he will be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame when his time comes up. Thornton will go down as one of the greatest players of a sport never to win the championship. The San Jose Sharks will retire his number 19 he wore for over a decade in the teal uniform. The only Sharks player to have his jersey retired is Patrick Marleau, a teammate of Thornton for many of those years they played together in San Jose. Marleau’s number 12 was retired last season which was earlier this year. To play on the ice for 24 seasons, and most of those years at a high level, it is amazing how Joe kept his body in shape. Thornton always had the playoff beard which got bigger as time went on as the look was very similar to Ryan Fitzpatrick of the NFL. Maybe in some circuits they say Fitzmagic’s beard looks like the Joe Thornton one, of the NHL. Either way Thornton had one hell of a run on the ice. Since he said he still would be found at the rink, maybe the beard will be seen coaching in a suit sometime in the future. Dry cleaning those suits may be pricey if the beard starts to shed.