Joe Thornton might have just played the final NHL game of his legendary hockey career following the disappointing second-round exit from the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs of the Florida Panthers, who got swept in four games by the reigning league champions, Tampa Bay Lightning.
Thornton made his 2022 postseason debut in Game 4 of the series against the Lightning and skated for just a little over six minutes and did nothing noteworthy during that stretch. Despite his limited role on the team this season, which was expected of him the moment he inked a one-year deal worth $750,000 with the Panthers in August 2021, Florida certainly felt his impact in other ways outside of the ice.
Here's what Andrew Brunette had to say about Thornton, who is about to turn 44 in July, via Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald:
“Joe’s the best,” interim coach Andrew Brunette said. “Such a no ego type of player. Just a tremendous leader and he’s meant a lot — so much — to our group all year in a way that’s unheralded and sometimes goes through the cracks. He treats everybody the same, regardless of who you are. He’s an unselfish, selfless teammate.”
Thornton tried to chase the ever-elusive Stanley Cup this season and looked as though he was finally going to get it, with the Panthers winning the Presidents' Trophy for having the NHL's best regular-season record.
With or without having the experience of lifting the Stanley Cup as a player ever, Thornton will go down as one of the best of his generation.
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