Thornton not healthy as second half begins
SAN JOSE – Sharks center Joe Thornton is still not quite 100 percent healthy as the unofficial second half of the year gets underway this weekend.
Thornton, 39, dealt with an infection in his surgically repaired right knee in October and on Thursday, Sharks coach Pete Deboer revealed that Thornton later suffered a broken toe. The Sharks returned to practice Thursday after an eight-day break off the ice and Thornton is expected to play Saturday at SAP Center against the Arizona Coyotes.
“Every time he seems to be turning a corner and putting that stuff behind him, it’s something else,” Deboer said. “He plays through all of this stuff, but the guy hasn’t been healthy.
“That’s step one. Let’s get him healthy. I know what he’s going to bring once he’s healthy.”
Thornton has 25 points in 43 games, which includes four goals and three assists in the Sharks’ last nine games before the NHL all-star break began. The Sharks have 30 regular season games left and are in second place in the Pacific Division, six points back of Calgary.
Thornton is averaging 15 minutes and 31 seconds of ice time so far, spending time recently on the third line with Marcus Sorensen on his wing. That’s down from the 18-plus minutes he averaged for the six seasons prior to this one.
“I feel really good,” Thornton said. “A good break. A little rusty today just with the week off. But I feel great.
“I found a nice groove with Marcus. We feel comfortable on the third line together. A good first half.”
Deboer compared Thornton’s situation to the one that captain Joe Pavelski went through in 2017-18, where a wrist injury limited his production, particularly in the first half of the season.
Pavelski had 10 goals and 35 points through 50 games last season but finished the year with 22 goals and 66 points as he played all 82 games. So far this season, Pavelski is leading the Sharks with 27 goals.
“My expectations are he’s going to be a big player for us and an important piece for us. He just needs to get healthy,” Deboer said of Thornton. “A lot like (Joe) Pavelski last year, he hasn’t been healthy all year.
“He’s close. He’s not there yet, but he’s close.”