Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

After surgery, Joe Thornton should be ready for 2017-18 (Wherever he plays)

San Jose Sharks v Edmonton Oilers - Game Five

EDMONTON, AB - APRIL 20: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers battles with Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on April 20, 2017 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

Getty Images

On Monday, we found out that Joe Thornton made the “courageous” (or ... outrageous?) decision to fight through tears to his ACL and MCL and suit up for the playoffs.

(That still warrants a moment of reflection, because, wow.)

The San Jose Sharks sent out a positive update in that regard: after successful surgery yesterday, Thornton is expected to be ready to play by the start of the 2017-18 season.

So, that answers one big question. It doesn’t settle an even bigger one, though: where will Thornton play next year?

Patrick Marleau indicated that he believes he has “at least five good years” left, a fine thought that becomes trickier when you consider San Jose’s salary structure problems for 2018-19 and on. The impression is that Thornton wants to come back, too, but what if he - justifiably - seeks security in a longer term deal?

That situation is currently unclear, but at least it sounds like he’ll be healthy to start next season, whether he remains a member of the Sharks or joins a different roster.