Sharks ink C Thornton to three-year extension

Jul 1, 2007 - 5:26 PM SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- On a day in which players became free agents, the San Jose Sharks made sure Joe Thornton did not become one for a long time.

The Sharks on Sunday locked up Thornton for the foreseeable future, signing the former Hart Trophy winner to a three-year contract extension.

The new deal will keep Thornton in San Jose through the 2010-11 season. The veteran, who celebrates his 28th birthday Monday, has led the team in scoring each of the last two campaigns after being acquired from Boston on November 30, 2005.

"Joe Thornton is among the top group of elite players in the National Hockey League," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said. "In addition to his play on the ice, Joe leads by example and has as much love for the game as anyone I have seen.

"Making sure Joe remained in San Jose was a top priority, and he will be an integral part of our franchise as we march towards our goal of competing for the Stanley Cup next year and for years to come."

Thornton has one year remaining on his current contract.

Drafted first overall by the Bruins in 1997, Thornton established himself as the team's marquee player, posting five consecutive 20-goal seasons beginning in 1999-2000. He served as Boston's captain for 2 1/2 campaigns before being traded to San Jose, where he has emerged as one of the top offensive stars in the NHL.

In just 58 games with the Sharks in 2005-06, Thornton recorded 20 goals and 72 assists, giving him a league-high 125 points overall, which earned him the Art Ross Trophy.

Following the 2005-06 campaign, Thornton won the Hart Trophy as league MVP, then followed up with another tremendous performance in 2006-07, notching 22 tallies and a league-leading 92 assists while finishing six points behind Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby in the scoring race.

The assists total also made Thornton just the third player in NHL history to post back-to-back seasons of 90, joining Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux in the exclusive group.

A native of London, Ontario, Thornton has collected 211 goals and 449 assists in 672 career games with the Bruins and Sharks. His 413 points since the start of the 2002-03 season is tops in the league.

Thornton is a four-time All-Star and also has represented Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics.