Thornton Trade Discussions With Bruins, Other Teams Have Intensified

Longtime San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton seems to be more than tempted by the fruit of a Stanley Cup contender and based on the chatter around the NHL late Saturday night and throughout the day Sunday, Thornton is more than leaning towards waiving his no-movement clause if the right situation with a contending team presents itself before the 3 PM ET NHL Trade Deadline hits Monday. 

As of late Sunday afternoon on the east coast, Thornton had not been traded and was in the lineup at the NYCB Live/Nassau Coliseum as the Sharks took on the New York Islanders. There has been no confirmation that Thornton has officially waived his no-movement clause, but as we’ve told you, the 40-year-old veteran center, still in search of his first Stanley Cup, has a shortlist of teams he’d consider waiving for. As reported here Friday and on our sister sites Colorado Hockey Now and Pittsburgh Hockey Now, that list is believed to have the following teams on it: the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche,  Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Another source close to the situation has now confirmed to Boston Hockey Now that Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson was granted permission to at least explore what he might be able to get for Thornton from those teams and there was a package scenario discussed with at least one of them. According to this source, Wilson and some of the general managers from those teams -including the Bruins – have had intensified discussions over the last few days. 

“Something’s brewing now that should make news soon,” the source told BHN.

Whether that means an actual trade takes place or not, no one knows at this point but what it does mean is that the situation has gotten to a point where Thornton is now seriously considering leaving the place he’s called home since he was dealt to the Sharks from the Bruins on November 30, 2005. 

It should be noted that Bruins Assistant General Manager John Ferguson Jr. has scouted two Sharks games in the last two weeks with the most recent being this past Thursday in New Jersey, where the Sharks lost to the Devils 2-1. 

Thornton helped his stock on Saturday with two goals against the New York Rangers and entering Sunday’s tilt with the Islanders, he had four goals and 21 assists in 61 games. Thornton – who was drafted by the Bruins with the top overall pick in the 1997 Entry Draft – had 417 goals, 1,088 assists and 1,505 points in 1,627 NHL games prior to Sunday.