Panthers’ Joe Thornton says he’s undecided on playing future

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Joe Thornton’s profession could also be over. Or not.

The veteran middle, who simply accomplished his twenty fourth season within the NHL and first with the Florida Panthers, mentioned Wednesday that he has not determined whether or not to retire or proceed taking part in.

“My spouse was sort of asking me final evening,” Thornton mentioned. “And actually, I’ve no plans. It’s sort of thrilling that manner. I got here right here to win a championship and we fell in need of that. However I feel the Florida Panthers are going to be good for a very long time. It’s thrilling round right here now.”

The query is whether or not he’ll be a part of that pleasure going ahead.

Thornton turns 43 on July 2. He was the second-oldest skater to look in a recreation this season; New York Islanders defenseman Zdeno Chara turned 45 in March, and like Thornton simply accomplished his twenty fourth season within the league.

They have been two of 4 gamers within the 40s who obtained into video games this season. Buffalo goalie Craig Anderson was a month shy of turning 41 when he made his remaining look of the season, and Edmonton goalie Mike Smith turned 40 in March.

“I’ve been privileged to play this recreation for a very long time,” Thornton mentioned. “I don’t take something with no consideration.”

Longtime San Jose Sharks operating mate Patrick Marleau introduced his retirement earlier this month after taking part in 23 seasons within the NHL. Marleau broke Gordie Howe’s video games performed report and retired having performed 1,779 within the common season throughout his profession.

Thornton has performed 1,714 video games — sixth most in regular-season historical past — with San Jose, Boston, Toronto and now the Panthers. He not too long ago joked he would let Marleau hold his place within the historical past books.

Thornton appeared in 34 video games with the Panthers this season, scoring 5 objectives and including 5 assists.

“Everyone likes to be round him,” Panthers ahead Anton Lundell mentioned. “He’s a humorous man and he likes to work. You see how a lot he cares concerning the sport, how a lot he likes to play, and the largest factor is how a lot he likes to be across the boys. He doesn’t actually prefer to take any days off.”

For perspective, Lundell was born Oct. 3, 2001. Sooner or later later, Thornton began his fifth NHL season.

Thornton picked the Panthers final summer time as a result of he felt coming to Florida was his finest hope to lastly win what can be his first Stanley Cup championship. The Panthers received the Presidents’ Trophy, set crew information for objectives, wins and factors and captured a playoff sequence for the primary time since 1996 — however obtained swept out of the second spherical by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“Type of want I’d performed with him,“ mentioned Panthers interim coach Andrew Brunette, who performed 16 NHL seasons earlier than turning his consideration to teaching. “However I obtained to teach him, and that was an amazing expertise.”

Thornton performed in just one playoff recreation with the Panthers, that being the sequence finale in opposition to the Lightning. He mentioned he didn’t undergo the normal handshakes on the finish of that recreation pondering it could possibly be his remaining moments of his life as an energetic participant.

“I by no means assume ‘what-ifs,’ to be sincere with you,“ Thornton mentioned. “I simply attempt to reside within the second and go from there.”

However the Panthers will go into subsequent season believing they’re a contender once more, and if he decides to go for a twenty fifth season that might definitely attraction to Thornton.

“I feel the world of Joe Thornton,” Panthers basic supervisor Invoice Zito mentioned.

Thornton is twelfth in regular-season historical past with 1,539 factors. A lot of the high 33 scorers in NHL historical past have already been enshrined within the Hockey Corridor of Fame; the one ones who aren’t but in are Thornton, Jaromir Jagr, Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, and that’s as a result of none of these 4 gamers are but eligible.

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AP Hockey Author Stephen Whyno contributed to this report.

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Extra AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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