There will never be another player quite like Joe Thornton.
Now no other San Jose Sharks player will wear his number — as if there was ever a choice.
The Sharks announced Wednesday that Thornton will have his No. 19 retired and raised to the rafters at SAP Center by the organization next season on a date to be determined.
Thornton, who officially announced his retirement from the NHL on Oct. 30, is the second player to have his number retired by the organization after Patrick Marleau had his No. 12 raised to the rafters at SAP Center on Feb. 25, 2023.
Additional details regarding Thornton’s ceremony will be released at a later date.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to play in the National Hockey League for 24 seasons,” Thornton said in a statement. “But when I came to San Jose, it felt like I was truly home. I fell in love with the area and the people, and I had the best years of my career wearing the Sharks crest.
“I want to thank Hasso Plattner, the Sharks organization, my teammates, our fans and especially my family for all their support over my career. I am humbled by this recognition, which is a reflection of all of those great teams we had in San Jose during my time there.”
There was little doubt that Thornton would be given this honor by the Sharks organization one day after he made his retirement from playing official.
All-time in Sharks history, Thornton ranks first in assists (804), points per game (0.96), power-play points (402), and plus-minus (+161). He is second all-time in points (1,055) and even strength points (645), third in games played (1,104), and fourth in goals (251) and game-winning goals (40).
Nicknamed “Jumbo” for his 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame and bigger-than-life personality, Thornton, drafted No. 1 overall by the Boston Bruins in 1997, played in 1,714 games over an NHL career that lasted until the end of the 2021-2022 season.
In a Hockey Hall of Fame-worthy resume, Thornton is sixth all-time in games played, seventh in assists (1,109) assists, and 12th in points (1,539). Thornton also played in 187 postseason games, 28th most in NHL history, and ranks 45th with 145 playoff points.
Thornton was also a four-time All-Star and an Olympic gold medalist for Canada in 2010. He captured the Hart Trophy as MVP and Art Ross Trophy as scoring leader in 2005-06 after he was traded early that season from Boston to San Jose.
After seven-plus seasons in Boston, Thornton was acquired by the Sharks on Nov. 30, 2005, and immediately changed the fortunes of the franchise for most of the next 15 years.
In a decade and a half in San Jose, Thornton played 1,104 regular season games and scored 1,055 points, marks that rank third and second, respectively, in Sharks history.
With Thornton, San Jose made the playoffs every year but one between 2005 and 2019, advancing to one Stanley Cup Final in 2016 and the Western Conference finals three other years in 2010, 2011, and 2019.
Please check back for updates on this developing story.
