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B’s won’t re-sign Thornton, who will ‘be missed’

Shawn Thornton

Boston Bruins’ Shawn Thornton speaks to the media in the team’s locker room at TD Garden Friday, May 16, 2014, in Boston. The Montreal Canadiens eliminated the Bruins with a 3-1 win in Game 7 of their second-round Stanley Cup playoff NHL hockey series on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

AP

As expected, the Boston Bruins will not be re-signing popular veteran forward Shawn Thornton.

Here’s B’s general manager Peter Chiarelli with the explanation:

According to Chiarelli, he told Thornton, who signed as an unrestricted free agent in 2007, that “he was one of the most significant acquisitions” the Bruins made, for both the role the bruising winger played and “the person that he is.”

But Thornton is 36 now, and the Bruins would like to get a bit younger and faster up front.

“He’ll be missed,” said Chiarelli. “It was a bit of a sad day.”