THORNTON Shock gives way to delight l

son said. ‘‘ He’s going to be a great person for a team to market him and use as an ambassador.’’

Wednesday, the Bruins decided they needed a new ambassador. And Thornton became a Shark.

In New England, shock waves went off in opposite directions. Some were outraged Boston would send its best player packing, or that it didn’t get enough in return. Others said Thornton lacked intensity, and the Bruins only did what was necessary.

Gord Kluzak, a former Bruins defenseman who is now a TV analyst, falls somewhere in between.

‘‘ I think Joe is a terrific player,’’ he said. ‘‘ I think the expectations here were always very high and I think relative to those expectations, he underachieved some.

‘‘ He’s had a very good career, and maybe on a team that doesn’t have as high expectations, he’ll achieve even more,’’ added Kluzak, who also was a No. 1 overall pick in 1982.

Shouldn’t expectations equally high in San Jose?

‘‘ The Sharks had to give up a lot to get him,’’ Kluzak said, ‘‘ but it’s not the same as coming to an Original Six city as the first overall pick.’’

First choice

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This isn’t the first time the Sharks, Bruins and Thornton have been linked.

In the 1996- 97 season, Boston finished one point behind San Jose in the battle for the NHL basement and the rights to Thornton, the consensus top pick. Choosing second, the Sharks selected their current captain, Patrick Marleau.

That first season, Marleau eclipsed Thornton. The Sharks center finished with 13 goals and 32 points. The Bruins eased Thornton into the lineup, and he produced three goals and seven points.

Boston wasn’t worried.

‘‘ When he scored his first goal in Philadelphia — God, I can’t believe I remembered that — it was a special moment for us,’’ said Sharks defenseman Kyle McLaren, who was Thornton’s teammate in Boston for five seasons. ‘‘ You knew he was a special player from the get- go.’’

Initially, Thornton’s numbers improved annually. His 37 goals in 2000- 01 were a career high, but his production peaked in 2002- 03 when he racked up 36 goals and 65 assists for 101 points — third best in the NHL that season.

The Bruins’ regular- season performance improved along with Thornton’s, and twice Boston captured the Northeast Division title.

What didn’t improve, however, was the Bruins’ record in the postseason. Boston won just one of six playoff series with Thornton. And the last failure, against arch- rival Montreal in 2004, was particularly painful.

Boston won the Northeast title and had a 3- 1 lead in firstround games over the Canadiens before losing the next three. Thornton went scoreless in all seven games. Later, it was revealed that he had played in pain, rushing back from a rib injury to try to help his team.

No matter. Those who questioned Thornton’s intensity could point to the zeroes on the score sheet.

‘‘ That series,’’ Kluzak said, ‘‘ was kind of a microcosm for the much bigger issue’’ — playoff performance.

‘‘ Joe hadn’t had much success, and because generally those who do well are the most fierce competitors, that just lent credence that Joe wasn’t as intense as he should be.’’

The 2004 series also reportedly drove a wedge between Thornton and the front office over concerns the team didn’t stand by its star player. That’s why some were surprised when Thornton, a restricted free agent during the lockout, signed a three- year, $20 million contract in August.

Kluzak sees Thornton benefiting from a scenery change. In part, that’s because, historically, the best Bruin has been the most competitive. Think Bobby Orr or Terry O’Reilly.

‘‘ It was always a frustration for the franchise that Joe didn’t have that intensity, day in and day out.’’

Change of scenery

Thornton doesn’t characterization.

‘‘ That’s just the Boston media being the Boston media,’’ he said Thursday. ‘‘ I play with a lot buy the of intensity, a lot of heart, and I gave my soul and heart to the Boston Bruins.’’

Thornton said he was blindsided by the trade, and there’s no reason to doubt him. A newspaper item Sunday said Thornton, who is single, just bought a $ 2.75 million penthouse in downtown Boston.

Now he’s warming up to the idea of life in California, which he initially said might be a tough adjustment after a lifetime in the East. Thursday he said he couldn’t wait to get there.

‘‘ I hear it’s a pretty state,’’ he said, smiling.

And while he said he’s also looking forward to getting to know his cousin — Sharks forward Scott Thornton — better, it may be their fathers who benefit most from the trade. nice

The brothers are close, Joe Thornton said, and ‘‘ Scott’s dad and my dad are excited that they can go on some road trips together.’’

McLaren is among those who think Thornton can thrive in San Jose, where players don’t have to worry as much about things like facing outspoken fans at the mall.

‘‘ It’s more relaxed in California,’’ McLaren said. ‘‘ We’re still professionals and we’re still going to do what it takes to win. But in Boston, from Day One Joe never got the privacy that sometimes a young player needs. There’s so much pressure to succeed. A change for him is good.’’ Contact David Pollak at dpollak@ mercurynews. com.