Post by Bob McKenzie on Sept 29, 2020 10:46:59 GMT -5
1. Joe Thornton - Center - Canada - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
Is one of the best passers the game has ever seen. Very hard to knock off the puck due to his massive frame and puck control. Really excels on the powerplay where his tremendous vision and playmaking ability come in handy. Was naturalized in the USA in July 2009. Also has the Swiss citizenship, because of marriage to a Swiss.
Joseph Eric Thornton (born July 2, 1979) is a Canadian-American professional ice hockey centre and alternate captain for the San Jose Sharks. He was selected first overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft and went on to play seven seasons with the club, three as its captain. During the 2005–06 season, he was traded to the Sharks. Splitting the campaign between the two teams, he received the Art Ross and Hart Memorial Trophies as the league's leading point-scorer and most valuable player, respectively.
Thornton's on-ice vision, strength on the puck, deft passing ability and power forward style of play have led to him becoming one of the league's premier top line centres. He is widely regarded as one of the best passers of all-time, and is one of only 13 players in history with 1,000 NHL assists. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, he received the nickname "Jumbo Joe" or "Jumbo" due to his size and Jumbo the elephant who was killed in 1885 in St. Thomas, Ontario, where Thornton was raised.
Thornton grew up playing minor hockey in his hometown of St. Thomas, Ontario, for the St. Thomas Travelers. He played "AA" hockey for the Travelers and in peewee won an Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) championship in 1992–93. His Bantam year was the first for the newly created "AAA" Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs organization, and Thornton joined the "AAA" Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs of the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario for the 1993–94 season. The creation of this organization led to the St. Thomas Minor Hockey Association to compete at the "A" level. During his bantam year, he appeared in six games for the Junior B St. Thomas Stars of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA), scoring eight points in six games as a 14-year-old. The following season, Thornton joined the Stars full-time and reeled off 104 points over 50 games as a 15-year-old, and was subsequently drafted second overall in the 1995 OHL Draft to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds behind Daniel Tkaczuk, who was selected by the Barrie Colts.
Beginning in 1995–96, Thornton began a two-year career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Greyhounds. He posted a 76-point season in his first year, earning both OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year honours. The following season, Thornton improved to 41 goals and 122 points, second overall in League scoring behind Marc Savard of the Oshawa Generals, and was named to the OHL Second All-Star Team.
Thornton was named to Canada's national under-20 team for the 1997 World Junior Championships in Switzerland. Underaged at 18 years old, he recorded four points in seven games, helping Canada to a gold medal. Two years later, he made his debut with the Canadian men's team at the 2001 World Championships in Germany. Thornton collected a goal and an assist over six games, as Canada was eliminated in the quarter-finals by the United States.
Thornton's next international appearance occurred at the 2004 World Cup. Established by then as a premiere player in the NHL, Thornton tied for third in tournament scoring with six points (a goal and five assists) over six games. He notched two assists in the championship game against Finland, helping Canada to a 3–2 win. At the 2005 IIHF World Championship in Austria, Thornton led all scorers with 16 points (six goals and ten assists) in nine games and was named tournament MVP. Canada advanced to the gold medal game, where they were shut-out 3–0 by the Czech Republic.
Thornton made his first appearance in the 2006 Winter Olympics. He recorded three points as Canada was shut out in three of six games, losing to Russia in the quarter-final. Four years later, he was again chosen to Canada's Olympic team for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. Thornton was joined by his Sharks linemates Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau, as well as Sharks defenceman Dan Boyle, on the squad. The offensive trio of Sharks played on the same line in the Olympics, as well. Thornton registered a goal and an assist over seven games, helping Canada to a gold medal finish.
Thornton was later invited to the Canada's hockey camp for the 2014 Winter Olympics, but did not attend due to his son being hospitalized with an illness. He was named to the Canadian roster for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey held in Toronto.
AWARDS
Major junior
Named to the OHL All-Rookie Team in 1996.
Won the Emms Family Award as OHL rookie of the year in 1996.
Named the CHL Rookie of the Year in 1996.
Named to the OHL Second All-Star Team in 1997.
NHL
Played in the National Hockey League All-Star Game in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009 (captain).
Won the Art Ross Trophy in 2006.
Won the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2006.
Named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 2006.
Named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 2003, 2008 and 2016.
SUI
Won the Spengler Cup with HC Davos in 2004.
Won the Swiss ice hockey championship with HC Davos in 2005.
International
Won the World Junior Championships gold medal with Team Canada in 1997.
Won the World Cup of Hockey with Team Canada in 2004.
Won the 2010 Winter Olympics gold medal with Canada.
Won the World Cup of Hockey with Team Canada in 2016.
RECORDS
Only player in NHL history to win the Art Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy while switching clubs in his winning campaign – 2005–06.
Highest point total recorded by a player while playing with two different teams in one season – 125 (2005–06)
Third player in NHL history to record back-to-back 90 assist seasons, with 92 in 2006–07 and 96 in 2005–06 (combined Boston/San Jose). The other two to accomplish this feat are Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.
San Jose Sharks' all-time leader in assists – 745
San Jose Sharks' all-time leader in +/- with +172
San Jose Sharks' all-time leader in points per game with 1.01
PROS:
One of the most prolific playmakers in NHL history.
CONS:
Will never win a cup... probably.