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San Jose Sharks: All-Decade Team for the 2010s

By Justin Fried

San Jose Sharks (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
San Jose Sharks (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Center: Joe Thornton

But Marleau isn’t the only elder-statesman still going strong at age 40. Joe Thornton remains perhaps the most beloved member of the Sharks in team history and absolutely must be included on the list.

Thornton is the Sharks’ all-time leader in assists by a considerable margin and if it wasn’t for Marleau, he would hold the team record for games played and points as well.

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San Jose Sharks return to the tank to face the Winnipeg Jets
San Jose Sharks return to the tank to face the Winnipeg Jets /

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    • The level of play he’s been able to keep up at such a high age has been something truly remarkable. Thornton was already in his 30’s by the time this decade begun meaning that everything he accomplished over the past 10 years should have been in the twilight of his career.

    But don’t tell him that.

    Thornton finished second in the league in assists during the 2013-14 season and in the 2015-16 season, he became just the seventh player in history to begin the season at age 36 or older and record at least 60 assists.

    And even at age 39 last season, ‘Jumbo’ still finished the season with 51 points — good for eighth on the team despite playing significantly fewer minutes than in previous seasons.

    As we enter 2020, Thornton continues to hold down the fort manning the Sharks third-line at the center position. At this stage, there’s only one thing that Thornton hasn’t accomplished in his legendary career.

    A Stanley Cup victory.

    There is perhaps no player in the NHL more deserving of a Cup victory than Thornton and even though things look dicey at the moment, the Sharks will continue to strive towards achieving that goal for him.

    Thornton is a beloved icon in San Jose and has become synonymous with his organization. There is no question that he deserves a spot on this team.

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