Florida Panthers’ Joe Thornton (19) waits for a face-off in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes in the course of the first interval of an NHL hockey sport in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP Photograph/Karl B DeBlaker)
Joe Thornton at 42 has barely longer hair than earlier than and his prodigious beard has a bit extra grey in it nowadays. However from all the pieces that Florida Panthers interim coach Andrew Brunette stated Saturday, he’s nonetheless the identical Joe Thornton.
“He’s nonetheless like a child. It’s infectious to be round,” stated Brunette, who performed 1,110 NHL video games from 1995 to 2012. “He’s out skating day-after-day. He’s making his performs, he’s holding the puck and it’s nonetheless like watching a younger participant.
“That’s one thing you type of knew taking part in in opposition to him through the years and training in opposition to him, that he had that. However till you see it day in, day trip and the way arduous he works at this age, how arduous he works on his sport – on and off the ice – the eagerness he has simply to be on the rink, is one thing you hear about. However in the event you see it shut up, it’s very distinctive and he’s a enjoyable man to be round.
“Guys love him.”
Thornton will play in opposition to the Sharks on Saturday for the primary time since he left the crew as a free agent after the pandemic shortened 2019-2020 season. After a season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he signed final summer time with the Florida Panthers, who're among the many NHL’s greatest groups with a 30-9-5 file.
Thornton met with the media earlier than Saturday’s sport at FLA Reside Enviornment to debate his time with the Sharks and his transition to the Panthers. Right here’s a transcript of that dialog.
What was distinctive about your time in San Jose after beginning your profession in Boston?
“As quickly as I received there, I simply fell in love with the place, fell in love with the individuals. The teammates have been nice. It was and it's only a nice, nice crew, nice possession, and simply good character guys.”
Are you content to see the Sharks being aggressive once more?
“Yeah, they’re again. With Logan (Couture) and Tommy Hertl, (Brent Burns) and Erik (Karlsson), they’ve received an excellent group there that they will construct off of. They clearly gained the final sport, so that they’re trying good. It’s going to be an excellent massive contest tonight. However, yeah, good to see the blokes successful once more and again to themselves.”
What do you miss most about being with the Sharks or being in San Jose?
“Actually, it’s arduous to say. I’m actually making an attempt to stay within the second right here, to be sincere with you. I've so many fond reminiscences there, however I’m actually simply specializing in taking part in right here with the blokes in Florida. Working with the blokes right here and I’m positive once I’m carried out I’ll have much more to say on that. However proper now I’m simply specializing in proper now.” 
You noticed how Patrick Marleau was obtained (in 2017) when first got here again to San Jose after he signed with Toronto. You’re centered on the current, however is it a second you’re trying ahead to (March 15) once you return there?
“Patty is simply greater than life on the market. Everytime you speak in regards to the Sharks, you speak about Patrick Marleau. It simply type of goes hand in hand. Who is aware of what the longer term holds. But when I do play in that sport, it’s gonna be particular. It’s a particular constructing, the Shark Tank. Quite a lot of nice reminiscences there and we’ll see if that occurs.”
How a lot of an adjustment has this season been for you? You’re used to taking part in each evening and 17-18 minutes a sport. Has it been an adjustment for you this season?
“Under no circumstances. I’m becoming in my position good, to be sincere with you. It’s been nice. It’s such an ideal crew right here, and once I talked to (Panthers basic supervisor) Invoice Zito in the summertime, we’re similar to, ‘alright, I need to be a part of this crew.’ However I don’t thoughts not taking part in each evening. It’s been good to be round this group. It’s been particular and particularly right here at dwelling, it’s been numerous enjoyable. The fellows are actually satisfying to observe and simply to be a part of this has been nice.”
Evander Kane gave an interview to TSN and he had talked about after he was placed on waivers by the Sharks that you just had reached out to him, and that he actually was touched by that. How vital was that so that you can attain out to him at the moment?
“I attempt to be in contact with numerous my ex-teammates, simply to ensure they’re doing good, they’re in the suitable spot. I similar to speaking and he’s an excellent talker. I’m an excellent listener, so it type of goes properly collectively.”
You guys had a fairly good relationship, an excellent friendship once you have been in San Jose collectively?
“He was nice to me. Everyone in that Sharks locker room has at all times been nice to me. So no complaints there.”
Hitting 4 targets in a sport is an enormous purpose. How good wouldn't it really feel in the event you hit that tonight?
“I really went out for dinner with Timo (Meier) final evening and him with 5, that’d be actually, actually particular. However let’s not get too far forward of ourselves. However yeah, I keep in mind when Tommy Hertl did that and it was a particular evening.”