Joe Thornton enters the top 20

[Mulletman]

With his generational playmaking skill Joe Thornton put up yet another assist against Toronto. The assist was Joe's 1399th career Point which got him into the top 20 all time in career Points. What was even more satisfying was that Jari Kurri is finally out of the top 20 all time. If there was anybody who didn't belong in that top 20 Before, it was Kurri. Basically just a glorified Chris Kunitz from the 80s. Thornton is a much better fit for the top 20 all time. What made it even more sweet was that Thornton got to spoil Marleau's return to San Jose too.

It's crazy how underrated Thornton has become. Everybody seems to forget that Thornton will most likely end his career as second all time in assists and the highest scoring player to never win the cup.

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[WingsMJN2965]

Crap. Guess we're gonna have to change it to top 21 of all time.

 

[Albatros]

If there was anybody who didn't belong in that top 20 Before, it was Kurri. Basically just a glorified Chris Kunitz from the 80s.

 

[TrufleShufle]

With his generational playmaking skill Joe Thornton put up yet another assist against Toronto. The assist was Joe's 1399th career Point which got him into the top 20 all time in career Points. What was even more satisfying was that Jari Kurri is finally out of the top 20 all time. If there was anybody who didn't belong in that top 20 Before, it was Kurri. Basically just a glorified Chris Kunitz from the 80s. Thornton is a much better fit for the top 20 all time. What made it even more sweet was that Thornton got to spoil Marleau's return to San Jose too.

It's crazy how underrated Thornton has become. Everybody seems to forget that Thornton will most likely end his career as second all time in assists and the highest scoring player to never win the cup.

Being a secondary fan of SJS, and big fan of Thorton, that whole post went from a pretty good feeling to pretty depressing with the last half of that last sentence.

 

[Sky04]

Thornton is the first and only person from the DPE to enter the top-20, he'll likely finish in the top-15 and be the only one from his entire generation to do so. Sidney Crosby is the next likely candidate to enter the top-20 but that's at least 4-5 years away.

 

[WingsMJN2965]

Thornton is the first and only person from the DPE to enter the top-20, he'll likely finish in the top-15 and be the only one from his entire generation to do so. Sidney Crosby is the next likely candidate to enter the top-20 but that's at least 4-5 years away.

Kinda weird actually. Can't think of very many mid to late 30s stars (Or former stars) in the league right now. Almost like there was a 10 year gap.

 

[Sky04]

Kinda weird actually. Can't think of very many mid to late 30s stars (Or former stars) in the league right now. Almost like there was a 10 year gap.

The old guard has pretty much retired, hard to prolong your career in today's game without footspeed like you could in the early 2000's.

They mentioned in the Tampa game the other day, Beauchemin is the only active player from the 1998 draft right now. Most of these guys would only be 37 years old right now, crazy.

 

[vancityluongo]

Slam dunk HHOF player. The best center and maybe player of the generation between Yzerman/Sakic and Crosby/Malkin. Ridiculous snub from the NHL top-100 list.

Also Kurri was not a glorified Kunitz lol.

 

[Eisen]

With his generational playmaking skill Joe Thornton put up yet another assist against Toronto. The assist was Joe's 1399th career Point which got him into the top 20 all time in career Points. What was even more satisfying was that Jari Kurri is finally out of the top 20 all time. If there was anybody who didn't belong in that top 20 Before, it was Kurri. Basically just a glorified Chris Kunitz from the 80s. Thornton is a much better fit for the top 20 all time. What made it even more sweet was that Thornton got to spoil Marleau's return to San Jose too.

It's crazy how underrated Thornton has become. Everybody seems to forget that Thornton will most likely end his career as second all time in assists and the highest scoring player to never win the cup.

And someone has no idea who Kurri was.

 

[RageQuit77]

And someone has no idea who Kurri was.

I think he has very good idea who Kurri was.

Luckily Kurri won his last, 5th Stanley cup in Edmonton without Gretzky.

Wikipedia fact:

"When Kurri joined the Oilers he was soon paired with Wayne Gretzky. The duo of Kurri and Gretzky became one of the most prolific scoring tandems ever to play in the NHL. Despite not always playing on the same team, Gretzky assisted on 364 of Kurri's 601 career goals, while Kurri had an assist on 196 Gretzky goals."

Hopefully Joe will won his first. Someday.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Kinda weird actually. Can't think of very many mid to late 30s stars (Or former stars) in the league right now. Almost like there was a 10 year gap.

Was Thornton the biggest star to come into the league between Lindros and Ovechkin?

 

[rent free]

took him a while to do so NOT. congrats to the greatest guy ever to not win a cup. shoulda signed somewhere else, jumbo.

 

[Satastic]

Yet somehow he apparently isn't one of the top 100 players in the history of the NHL.

 

[Ceremony]

We've finally found a Finnish guy Mulletman doesn't like.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

took him a while to do so NOT. congrats to the greatest guy ever to not win a cup. shoulda signed somewhere else, jumbo.

Don't think it has anything to do with where he played... san jose had a long time where they were a playoff team/contender and a few years where I think you could just about call them a favorite. I just don't think he really ever had that extra gear come playoff time.

I think san jose is out , they will move him

 

[rent free]

Don't think it has anything to do with where he played... san jose had a long time where they were a playoff team/contender and a few years where I think you could just about call them a favorite. I just don't think he really ever had that extra gear come playoff time.

oh lol i shouldabeen clearer. when i said "shoulda signed somewhere else, jumbo." i meant he shoulda signed somewhere else in the offseason. my bad

 

[qwerty]

Still not sure how he and Malkin didn't make the NHL's top 100 list. How a gigantic panel could finalize their list and choose not to include one of the best passers of all time is beyond me.

 

[hohosaregood]

It's gonna be a while before we see 1000 assists come from another player. Crosby in 6ish years probably. McDavid in like 15 years.

 

[MR4]

Kurri = Kunitz, this take it hotter than the sun

 

[Bustedprospect]

Im starting to get the same feeling for Thornton as i did for Selanne. Really hope he will be able to win a cup at this stage of his career.

 

[Combat Koala]

Guaranteed Mulletman quality thread. Love it.

Hopefully Thornton gets a cup before he retires.

 

[These Are The Days]

Take it from a Lightning fan. We WISH Kunitz was Kurri

 

[TNT87]

Take it from a Lightning fan. We WISH Kunitz was Kurri

Yeah, the Pens would have never let him go if that was the case.

 

[Passchendaele]

Kurri has had the benefit of having unreal chemistry with Wayne.

Without him, he's still a star player, albeit no 130+ seasons in the books.. probably similar numbers to Steve Larmer.

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

It has been an honor to watch him play.

He doesn't have a Cup yet but it's not over until it's over. People probably said the same thing about Raymond Bourque in his last few years.

He still has a chance.