‘I don’t get it’
Hamilton move miffs Thornton
MIDDLETON — Shawn Thornton has not played for the Bruins since the 2013-14 season but, in some ways, the Florida Panthers winger has never left. He maintains an offseason residence in Charlestown and has said many times that he’ll make Boston his home when he retires.
And yesterday, he held his annual Putts and Punches for Parkinson’s Golf Tournament at Ferncroft Country Club. Before teeing off, Thornton took some time to weigh in on a few subjects.
One of those subjects was the Bruins story of the summer, Dougie Hamilton’s trade to the Calgary Flames, a move that was seemingly what the young defenseman wanted.
“I don’t care, to be completely honest. He’s not my teammate. He wasn’t last year and he isn’t next year,” Thornton said. “Listen, I’m a little surprised. I love Boston and for someone to want to get out of it, I don’t get it, especially in the first few years (of his career). But it’s his world. He had decisions to make and that’s the one he made. Hopefully, he’s happy in Calgary.”
• Thornton has played with both Reilly Smith and Jimmy Hayes and was asked who won the trade of the forwards, his former team or his current one. He handled the question diplomatically.
“You guys are going to love (Hayes). Obviously I played with Smitty, he’s got a ton of speed and a ton of skill. I think the way we were looking to go, we wanted to add some speed to our lineup and he definitely possesses that,” Thornton said. “But (Hayes is) a great kid. He’s going to add a lot of character to that locker room and he’s going to be fun for you guys to talk to.”
• What advice would Thornton give Hayes on playing in Boston?
“Stay out of the bar. You can’t hide here. Don’t be dancing on tables with your shirt off and bottles of vodka in your hand, like somebody else,” Thornton said. “He’ll be going to his coffee shop and he’ll be hearing about his game last night. And that’s completely different from Florida, where you fly under the radar all the time. But he’s from here and he knows that. He’s a smart kid. He’s going to have to work hard. I’ve talked to him about how the Bruins are built and how good a shape every one is in, from Don Sweeney all the way down. It’s probably the most (in-shape) team I’ve ever been on. It’s going to be a lot of hard work and different for him, but he’s very, very excited to be here. It looks like his head’s in the right place last time I talked to him.”
• Does the loss of winger Milan Lucic drastically change the Bruins?
“I don’t know about drastically. Obviously Looch has a skill set that probably nobody in the NHL does and you take that away,” Thornton said. “There aren’t too many guys who can score 20-30 goals a year and be arguably the toughest guy in the league. But that (free agent forward signee) Matt Beleskey plays a hard game, Jimmy Hayes is a big body. I don’t know if they’ve changed, but you’re definitely going to notice when Looch isn’t out there breaking glass when he hits guys.”
• Thornton is 38 and in the final year of his contract. Is this his last NHL season?
“I’m OK either way,” Thornton said. “I’m going into my 19th (professional) year. I’m happy with what’s happened in my career and I’m OK if I have to shut ’er down. If I have a tough year and that’s it, then so be it. But if I happen to have a good year, things work out and somebody wants to give me a paycheck for another year, I’m more than happy. I mean, I love competing, I love the game, I love staying in shape, I love being around the guys. I’ve said it before: I’ll play till they rip the skates off me. If that happens to be (next) summer, then it is. If it’s the summer after, then even better.”