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Joe Thornton is Thriving in Post-Captaincy

After 18 years in the NHL, San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton is seeking his first Stanley Cup. And he's playing like a young man again.
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Thornton has found his groove. After nine seasons and a string of playoff disappointments with the San Jose Sharks, the veteran center was stripped of his captaincy ahead of the 2014-15 season. He answered the bell this year, though, with 82 points, and became a fan and media darling in the process—not just in San Jose but across the NHL.

Now the Sharks are hoping that Thornton can help erase past postseason failures and win his and the franchise's first Stanley Cup. Thornton, 36, and the Sharks already tasted redemption by eliminating the Los Angeles Kings in five games in the first round. They're one win away from reaching the Western Conference finals, leading the Nashville Predators 3-2 going into Monday's Game Six.

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The skilled playmaker has returned to form in his 18th NHL season by embracing his unique skillset and his mellow personality.

"If it's possible, I really think he's getting better as he gets older," said Glenn Murray, a former teammate of Thornton's on the Boston Bruins who now serves as development coach for the Kings. "He still has this talent where he just knows how to get the puck to his teammates or in the net. He really has this unbelievable ability to sense the game and read what the next play will be. He gets the puck to his teammates no matter what. If you want it somewhere on the ice, get to that place and the puck will be waiting for you thanks to Joe."

Read More: Why Hockey Needs Ovechkin to Lift the Stanley Cup

P.J. Stock, who also played with Thornton in Boston, says his former teammate looks like himself again: carefree, smiling, and enjoying the game he loves.

"I'm happy for him. Joe's Joe again," Stock said. "I was never worried his game was declining like some were over the last two seasons. It was more him being able to balance who he is with the game of hockey and dealing with the expectations cast upon him because of his size and skill. What he went through the last two seasons was why it never worked for him in Boston."

Two years ago, the Sharks blew a 3-0 series lead to the Kings in the first round. Four months later, Thornton was stripped of his captaincy after reportedly refusing to waive his no-movement clause and be traded. By the end of the 2014-15 season, he and Sharks general manager Doug Wilson were publicly trading barbs, with Thornton telling the media, "Doug needs to shut his mouth."

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Things got worse the following year, when the Sharks failed to make the postseason for the first time since 2002-03. Thornton was the scapegoat once again, coming off his worst season with the Sharks (not counting the lockout-shortened season in 2013), in which he amassed just 65 points in 78 games. It was a far cry from the 6'4, 220-pound pivot's 2005-06 season, when he was traded to San Jose from Boston in November, had 125 points in 81 games, and earned the Hart Trophy as league MVP.

Despite his consistency on the ice and Hall of Fame stats, Thornton's dedication and leadership have been questioned throughout his career. According to Stock, though, this is usually about Thornton being misunderstood.

"Joe is Cali and Cali is Joe. That's why, for the most part, it's worked there for him. He fits that California stereotype," Stock said. In a hockey market like Boston, that laidback attitude was less welcome.

"When I was in Boston with him, I think there was a part of Joe where—I don't want to say necessarily pissed his teammates or the coach off but was frustrating," Stock said. "Pardon my terminology, but you wanted that 'Fuck you!' attitude to kick in every now and then! We wanted that 'I'm taking the bull by the horn! Get the out of my way, I'm Joe Thornton and no one is stopping me' type attitude here and there."

While the Bruins management built a strong supporting cast around their star player during the 2001-02 season, when Thornton didn't have it, he just didn't have it. And that was a problem.

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"When it's time for your best players to be your best players—and Joe was by far our best player—they need to be," Stock said. "With Joe, there were times where you were just waiting for that to happen and there were nights where he actually said, 'Tonight's not my night.'"

Revenge is sweet. Photo by John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

For Stock, however, the Bruins' biggest mistake was naming Thornton captain. They ended up trading him to the Sharks two months later. In San Jose, Wilson has done a good job of surrounding Thornton with veteran leaders and skilled players. For the most part, Thornton has been able to be himself and in turn produced consistently. But one thing Stock couldn't understand is why Wilson decided to put the 'C' on him, too.

"Look, the Bruins and Sharks aren't the only teams to make that mistake of making your best player your captain. It happens way too much nowadays," he said. "But that sealed his fate in Boston."

In San Jose, however, Thornton has survived his second captaincy—and its removal.

"I'm sure that wasn't easy on him," Murray said. "But he's got a lot of character … he did what was best for the team at that time and that just shows the person he is."

This season, Thornton was named an alternate captain, and the 'A' on his jersey has come with a lot less pressure than the 'C.' Thornton can finally come out and be the hockey player and leader his team needs.

"Joe is a laid back dude, no doubt," Stock said. "People might think then that he doesn't take the game seriously because when things go wrong he says, 'Oh well,' but he does; he does take it serious when it comes to winning and playing. "

Murray agreed. "He's still working his ass off," he said, "and obviously his goal is to still win a Cup for the Sharks."