The Sharks have added franchise legend and Hall of Famer Joe Thornton to their staff in an official capacity. Joe Thornton will serve as a Player Development Coach and Hockey Operations Advisor going forward.
The transition should be seamless for Thornton, who has been assisting the Sharks in an unofficial capacity for the past couple of seasons since his retirement. Thornton has been working with the younger Sharks players, in addition to taking Macklin Celebrini under his wing by letting him live in his home this past season. Thornton was also present at this year’s development camp, helping young prospects and coaching the scrimmage along with Patrick Marleau.
A part of the Hall of Fame class of 2025, Thornton provides immense value to San Jose in any capacity. As a development coach, his experience and knowledge will be a significant asset to the young talent entering the Sharks. This also continues to reinforce the Sharks' strong connection with their former players. The two greatest Sharks of all time, Thornton and Marleau, are now development coaches for the Sharks. In addition to GM Mike Grier and Assistant GM Ryan Clowe, many others have come back to help build the next era of Sharks hockey. It's a testament to how special this organization is and the culture it's built upon. The future of the Sharks is in good hands going forward, and although the rebuild has been a long process, it’s exciting to see what could be on the horizon.
Thornton was just one of many hires and promotions; the full list can be found here. Another former player on the list is Thomas Vanek, the former Buffalo star, never played for the Sharks but has been working for them for the past two seasons as a scout. He was promoted to Hockey Operations Advisor.