George Richards, FHN Publisher
Joe Thornton celebrated his 42nd birthday on Saturday and, at 41, he was the oldest to suit up for the Florida Panthers since Jaromir Jagr.
Thornton, as is the case with Jagr, will join Roberto Luongo in the Hockey Hall of Fame some day.
Will Thornton’s Hall of Fame clock start now?
It is very possible Thornton’s 2021-22 season — his 24th — was his last in the NHL.
Thornton came to the Panthers in search of the Stanley Cup and, as we all know, they did not make it to the top of that mountain.
”I came here to win a championship,” he said, “and we fell short of that.”
After missing the entirety of the postseason, Thornton played in Florida’s 2-0 loss to the Lightning in Game 4 of the second round — the final game of the Panthers’ season.
Again, could that be Thornton’s final game as an NHL player?
Thornton, by all accounts, wants to continue playing — either in the NHL or perhaps in Switzerland where he and his family spends the offseason.
At least that is how he has allayed his thoughts to some around the Panthers.
Two days after the Panthers’ loss to the Lightning, Thornton said he “really had no plans and it’s kind of exciting that way.”
He added that he thought “the Florida Panthers are going to be good for a long time and it’s exciting around here now.”
These thoughts came in the immediate aftermath of Florida’s disappointing loss to the Lightning — and not in the weeks and months leading up to the reality of another grind to the season.
Luongo himself spoke of that when he decided he was going to retire, the thought of getting back to the rink and into the gym to prepare for another season was not something he wanted to do.
Thornton may not be thinking that way. Word is he was back in the gym soon after Florida’s season came to a close.
”The guys played hard every night and it’s a long year and it grinds on you,’’ Thornton said. “But the guys here put a smile on my face every day. They love to come to work and it was easy for me to join this group and for them to allow me to be a part of it was great.”
Whether or not Thornton returns to the Panthers remains in question.
Would Thornton be welcomed back to Florida if he wanted to return?
Probably, yes. If the Panthers can afford him.
Even though Thornton played at the NHL veteran minimum last season — and would likely get a similar deal here or elsewhere — right now, the Panthers cannot even give him that.
Right now, anyway.
The Panthers are expected to be active in the coming weeks as the draft opens Thursday night in Montreal and free agency begins a week from Wednesday.
General manager Bill Zito will have to move some players and their cap hits to other teams in order to patch up Florida’s roster.
Truthfully, the return of Thornton has to be at the bottom of Zito’s to-do list.
Last year, Thornton signed with the Panthers a few weeks after free agency opened, agfter the Panthers had locked down the players they wanted through contract extensions.
Zito knew how much he had to spend; the Panthers had the flexibility to add Thornton in 2021. They are not currently in a similar situation.
Thornton only played in 34 of Florida’s 82 games last season with coach Andrew Brunette — and Thornton himself — saying he was fine with the limited role on a team as loaded as the Panthers.
Others wondered if that was the case.
The Panthers would probably like Thornton to be their Udonis Haslem. Unlike the Heat, they have roster and salary cap concerns which may prevent that.
Would it be a surprise to see Joe Thornton get one more kick at a Cup — and have it come with the Florida Panthers?
No.
”I have been privileged to play this game for a long time and I have not taken anything for granted,” Thornton said. “I never think ‘what ifs?’ and just try to live my life in the moment and go from there.”
Florida Panthers Roll Call is a recurring feature at Florida Hockey Now leading into the start of trade and free-agent season.
The NHL Draft begins Thursday night in Montreal; free agency opens July 13.