“Jumbo” Joe Thornton: San Jose’s Assist Machine
By Felix Chow
Dec 29, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton (19) reacts to a call during the second period of the game against the Anaheim Ducks at SAP Center at San Jose. The San Jose Sharks defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Each and every game of hockey is undoubtedly a team effort. Every player wins as a group and loses as a group. That’s the type of player that Sharks Captain “Jumbo” Joe Thornton is. He may talk soft as a Captain, but he truly plays with a type of passion that’s just unreal. One of the things about him that I want to write about in this article, though, is his ability as a playmaker.
Many Bostonians still remember Thornton as that 1st overall draft pick in 1997. Even before the four-player trade that saw the big 6′ 4″ 220 lb centerman get traded from the Boston Bruins to the San Jose Sharks, with the exception of the ’00-’01 season with the Bruins he was still wracking up more assists than scoring goals. A lot of coaches have encouraged him to shoot more to this day, but his ability to read and create plays is just absolutely phenomenal.
Joe Thornton Works His Magic vs. Avs (12/23/13)
Current All-Time Assists Ranking
As Joe Thornton continues to climb up the list of NHL All-Time Assists, I’ll show you where he stands as of now (updated as of Jan. 3, 2014):
* Actively Playing
| Rank # | Player Name |
Assists1Wayne Gretzky19632Ron Francis12493Mark Messier11934Ray Bourque11695Paul Coffey11356Adam Oates10797Steve Yzerman10638Gordie Howe10499Marcel Dionne104010Mario Lemieux103311Jaromir Jagr*102812Joe Sakic101613Doug Gilmour96414Mark Recchi95615Al MacInnis93416Larry Murphy92917Stan Mikita92518Bryan Trottier90119Phil Housley89420Dale Hawerchuk89121Niklas Lidstrom87822Phil Esposito87323Denis Savard86524Bobby Clarke85225Joe Thornton*82826Alex Delvecchio82527Gilbert Perrault81428Mike Modano81329Johnny Bucyk81330Pierre Turgeon81231Jari Kurri79732Guy Lafleur79333Peter Statsny78934Mats Sundin78535Brian Leetch78136Jean Ratelle77637Vincent Damphousse77338Chris Chelios76339Teemu Selanne*76240Bernie Federko76141Doug Weight75542Larry Robinson75043Denis Potvin74244Norm Ullman73945Bernie Nicholls73446Rod Brind’Amour73247Luc Robitaille72648Jean Beliveau71249Scott Stevens71250Jeremy Roenick703
The Big Question Is…
Almost everyone pretty much knows the situation with the current Captain of the San Jose Sharks, given that he’s part ofthe “Big Three” who’ve not been given contract extensions yet or if ever. Even with the big question mark (what happens next for them) looming above their heads, Thornton’s still showing he’s got plenty of energy left in the tank and is playing perhaps the best hockey of his career.
I asked Sharks Radio Color Commentator and Former Shark Jamie Baker (@Bakes_Jamie13) what he thought of the ability of Joe Thornton as a playermaker (a fellow fan also chipped in):
@SJSharkByte @Bakes_Jamie13 confused at the question. He's been leading the nhl in assists for basically a decade.
— NuggetSauce (@nuggetsauce) January 3, 2014
(With a little confusion at my original question, so after explaining what the question was for and a little rephrasing…)
@SJSharkByte @Bakes_Jamie13 look at what he's done with players like cheech, Marleau, even Hertl. Not sure he's ever not given wingers 30g.
— NuggetSauce (@nuggetsauce) January 3, 2014
@SJSharkByte @Bakes_Jamie13 granted they don't lack ability in their own right, but he's the oil that makes the wheels turn on that line.
— NuggetSauce (@nuggetsauce) January 3, 2014
And now here’s Bakes…
Whether or not he’ll continue to stay in San Jose with the others for the remaining of the season bearing in mind of the Trade Deadline coming up soon remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure, if he’s going to stay and retire a Shark he deserves to win the Cup by now and get the nod for the HHOF.