NHL trade rumors: 5 bold trade deadline predictions for 2020

3. The San Jose Sharks Actually Trade Joe Thornton

Ever since the San Jose Sharks traded for Joe Thornton in 2005, he’s been their best player. Thornton’s the best player in franchise history and I don’t think it’s particularly close. Whenever you think of the Sharks, you think of “Jumbo Joe”.

Thornton, sadly, is nearing the end of what has been an outstanding career. At 40 years old, there’s a good chance this will be his last season. Thornton’s one heck of a tough guy, but both of his knees have endured major surgeries recently. That’s a lot for anyone, let alone a 40-year-old, to overcome.

Now, Thornton has a no-movement clause. He doesn’t have to go anywhere if he doesn’t want to. In the past, Thornton has outright refused to consider playing for anyone else, even after the Sharks unceremoniously stripped him of his captaincy. However, he seems a lot more open to it this time around.

Maybe Thornton’s finally realizing the Sharks aren’t contenders. And maybe he realizes his resume, while quite impressive, lacks a very important element – a Stanley Cup. Thornton’s going to have to make a very tough decision. San Jose has been his home since 2005. It’s never easy to leave a place that’s so meaningful to you.

That said, I think Thornton sees the writing on the wall and will accept a trade. With a $2 million cap hit, if he’s willing to accept a trade, there will be a ton of teams interested in him. Will Thornton’s final season end the same way that Ray Bourque‘s did back in 2001? Only time will tell.