Colby Guy
With Sasha Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau and Aaron Ekblad all out of the lineup, it was Joe Thornton’s turn to lead the Florida Panthers on the ice.
After a season in which Thornton sacrificed a main role by sitting out in 49 of 82 games, the Panthers rewarded him with an ‘A’ on his sweater during their final two games of the 2021-22 regular season.
”It was great,’’ Thornton told Jessica Blaylock of Bally Sports during the first intermission of Thursday’s game in Ottawa.
“There were a lot of guys out so I got the privilege. To be part of this group has been special. We have a lot of work left to do.”
Thornton has been used to wearing a letter on his jersey for much of his 24-year career, donning one in 18 different seasons and spending seven of them as a captain.
This one was a cool moment for both him and the team.
“We didn’t even talk about it, he’s worn every letter possible throughout his career, so I don’t think it was that big of a deal for him,” Panthers coach Andrew Brunette said.
“But he means so much to our group and what he brings, how he goes about his business. To see a guy of his stature and what he’s done in the game as one of the all-time greats treat everybody and anybody the same, it’s just a wonderful thing to see and a wonderful thing to be around.
“It’s a wonderful thing for all of the players on our team to see how true professionalism should be played out.”
Thornton, 42, came into this season ranked 14th all-time in points (1,529) and sixth all-time in games played (1,680) but he treated everyone he played with as if they were on his level.
“He’s awesome, I wish he could be on this team forever,” Carter Verhaeghe said.
“There are not enough good things to say about him. Just being around him every day, there is always a smile on his face. He enjoys playing the game and just loves talking and being around the boys. It’s fun being around him and I want to be around him all the time.”
During the two-game set, Thornton played with Aleksi Heponiemi, 23, and Cole Schwindt, 21, who played a combined 14 NHL games heading into the game.
He was just as excited as ever to play with the duo whose combined age is just two years his senior.
“He is such a no-ego type of player,” Brunette said. “He is so excited to play with them and he is helping them out.
“He’s talking with them and he’s just a tremendous leader and he’s meant so much to our group all year and it kind of goes through the cracks. He treats everyone the same and he is a selfless teammate.”
Thornton was held off the scoresheet during the Panthers’ final two-game set, finishing the season with five goals and 10 points in 33 games, but his impact goes far beyond the ice.
“I think Joe helps everybody, regardless of whether or not it is a younger guy or an older guy,” Brunette said.
“A guy with his resume, how he approaches the game, how much joy he finds in hockey and being around the team, it’s contagious. I think he’s helped all of us, myself included.”
While that resume includes a Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, and numerous All-Star appearances, there is one notch on that resume that still alludes him.
The Stanley Cup.
Florida begins their chase for the Cup next week and Thornton will be there, doing whatever it takes — on and off the ice — to help the Panthers win it.