10 CAREER DEFINING
JOE THORNTON CARDS
It’s hard to imagine hockey without Joe Thornton. e 43-year-old legend and unstoppable force for joy on the ice remained an unrestricted free agent heading in 2022-23 a er posting just five goals and 10 points in 35 games for the Florida Panthers last season.
As one of the most accomplished players in NHL history, it almost diminishes the St. omas, Ontario native to simply refer to him as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Taken first overall by the Boston Bruins in 1997, Thornton has gone on to play a remarkable 24 seasons – plus another year and a half in Switzerland’s top league – while posting numbers that place the 6-foot-4, 220-pound center among the very best ever to play the game. A consummate playmaker, he ranks seventh all-time with 1,109 assists, and only Wayne Gretzky, Jaromir Jagr, and Mark Messier earned more helpers with the extra man than his 701. He’s sixth on the list with 1,714 games played and ranks 12th with 1,539 career points scored for the Bruins, Sharks, Maple Leafs, and Panthers. He was named to four season-end All-Star teams and earned both the Art Ross and Hart Trophies in 2006.
And while he never got the Cup that he wanted, Thornton knew how to win. He was a highly decorated member of Team Canada, helping his homeland claim Olympic gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games, along with victories at the 2004 and 2016 World Cups and the 1997 World Junior Championship.
But even as the statistics and hardware piled up, Thornton’s popularity centered more on his personality than his production. He came off as a cross between Jeff Spicoli from “Fast Times At Ridgemont High” and “The Dude” from “e Big Legowski,” a genial, laid-back wizard with the soul of a Golden Retriever who was impossible not to love. And when it comes to all-time NHL bromances, it’s hard to imagine a more compelling tandem than latter-day Jumbo and his San Jose beard buddy, Brent Burns.
One-of-a-kind hardly covers his legacy. It’s no wonder collectors have always flocked to his cards. And while he has his share of high-dollar singles, the vast majority of Thornton’s hobby legacy remains relatively affordable. But with so many different options to pursue – more than 6,200 base, parallel, autograph, relic, and oddball singles in total – kicking off a Jumbo Joe collection can be overwhelming. Looking for a little guidance? ese 10 cards serve as an excellent representation of his epic playing career, making them the foundation of a solid Thornton PC.