SAN JOSE – Joe Thornton signed a contract extension with the Sharks a little more than two years ago, and what a two years it’s been.
The veteran center was a part of one of the biggest playoff collapses in NHL history, when the Sharks blew a 3-0 first round lead to Los Angeles in 2014. He had the captaincy stripped from his sweater during the subsequent tumultuous offseason. He was publicly criticized by his general manager for lashing out at teammates, and responded by suggesting Doug Wilson “shut his mouth and stop lying.” After the Sharks missed the playoffs for the first time in his tenure in San Jose last April, there were numerous indications that he and former coach Todd McLellan weren’t seeing eye-to-eye anymore, either.