We all deserve to see Jumbo Joe Thornton lift a Stanley Cup trophy. Thornton, 40, got close in 2016 with the Sharks losing in the finals. One of the legends of the sport hasn’t had his championship moment yet. Don’t we all want to see that? It’s time to bring Joe Thornton back to the Bruins.
San Jose is stuck in no man’s land. They sit in 6th place in the Pacific division with no signs of turning things around. Thornton’s chances to win a cup with the Sharks seem slim at best. A trade to Boston makes the most sense.
A: They hold the top spot in the Atlantic division and just made the Finals a year ago.
B: The Bruins need him.
Jumbo Joe is nearing the end of the road. In 51 games, he has 2 goals, 17 assists, and -13 +/-. Who cares? This is about the postseason. With more rest and playoff experience, Thornton can prove valuable. Just a year ago, Jumbo Joe had 10 points in 19 postseason games. He can still play.
A return to Boston makes sense. It’s the team that drafted him first overall in 1997. He even still has a former teammate in Patrice Bergeron on the roster. What a way to cap off a career. Returning to Boston 15 years after they traded him to win the big one.
Thornton fits in nicely in Boston. It’s a team with young flying wingers that can make up for the loss speed but will gain from his experience and winning pedigree. Boston has the top ranked first line in the NHL with Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pasternak. Winning the cup will be about winning the other lines. Having Thornton out there with young guns like Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork sounds like a plan that works.
Bring Joe Thornton back to Boston. The Bruins give him the best chance to raise the cup and they need him to anchor the deeper lines. Make it happen, Don Sweeney.
