Thornton gets 1,000th point with Sharks

Joe Thornton added another milestone to his collection on Thursday when he became the second player to have 1,000 points as a member of the San Jose Sharks.

For one of the great playmakers in NHL history, it was appropriate that the milestone point was an assist. Thornton's highlight-reel pass set up Evander Kane game-tying goal in the first period of San Jose's
5-2 win
at the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome.
"It's nice. It's nice. I've had a real luxury of playing with some incredible players in San Jose," said the 39-year-old center, who trails only longtime linemate Patrick Marleau (1,082 points) on the Sharks' all-time scoring list. "I've been playing here for so long. It was just bound to happen. Really lucky to play on a great team for so many years. Still going."

Thornton's 1,000th point with the Sharks came in his 1,007th game since being acquired in a trade with the Boston Bruins on Nov. 30, 2005. He finished the 2005-06 season as the first player in the NHL to win the scoring championship playing for two teams, putting up 125 points (29 goals, League-leading 96 assists) and winning the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player.
Thornton led the NHL in assists again in 2006-07 (92) and 2007-08 (67). He has 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 46 games this season after being limited to 47 games in 2017-18 by a season-ending knee injury.
"He is incredible, when you see him run through his pregame routine and then what he brings for us both leadership-wise and what he provides on the ice with his game is incredible," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said.
Thornton has 1,454 points (407 goals, 1,047 assists) in 1,539 NHL games, including 238 goals and 762 assists with the Sharks. He also has 123 points (27 goals, 96 assists) in 160 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
He can tie Shane Doan and Johnny Bucyk for 15th all-time in games played when the Sharks play at the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SN, SN360, NBCSCA, NHL.TV). Thornton is 10th all-time in assists, two shy of ninth-place Gordie Howe.
Thornton reached three milestones earlier this season. He became the 15th player in NHL history to play in 1,500 games when he suited up for the Sharks against the Dallas Stars on Nov. 8, scored his 400th NHL goal on Nov. 13 against the Nashville Predators, and played his 1,000th game with San Jose on Jan. 15 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He also scored a goal in that game; it was the 407th of his NHL career.