The sentimental notion of Joe Thornton coming back to the Boston Bruins twenty-three seasons after they first drafted him and winning a Stanley Cup is the fairy-tale we’d love to see.
However, the Boston Bruins must remember that this isn’t the Joe Thornton of old. His career-best 125-point season in the year he was traded to San Jose is firmly behind him; in fact, it’s fourteen seasons ago.
As such, if a deal is to be made, Boston Bruins should massively temper their expectations. As a perennial 15-20 goal player, Joe Thornton is sitting on just 2 this season.