Joe Thornton receives his HHOF blazer and ring

Joe Thornton receives his HHOF blazer and ring

The first overall pick in the 1997 NHL draft, the final inductee in the player category, went on to play an incredible 24 seasons in the league, recording more than500 points. His distinguished career also includes an Olympic gold medal, an Art Ross trophy as the leading scorer, and a heart trophy as the NHL MVP. The Hockey Hall of Fame is pleased to welcome Joe Thornton as an honored member. [Music] Joe, there’s so many numbers that can in your career. I mean, it’s just been so impressive. But one of my favorite stats about Joe Thornton, uh, two of them, and they just beat Zidane Otara, you held out just a few few months longer before when he actually retired, he in 2022, he was the last athlete in North American sports to have played in the 1990s. And also when you retired, that might be Z. No, cuz you you you retired like four or five months after him officially. And you were also the when you retired, it was the first time since 1945-46 that the NHL did not have a player in it that played with or against Wayne Gretzky. That just is mind-blowing to me. And not to make you feel older or anything, but let’s go back to when when you were your rookie year. What do you remember about playing against some of those legends, lining up against Wayne Gretzky? Uh that’s Yeah, I played against Wayne. I played against Braun. Like these guys I grew up against. Um it was just incredible. Yeah, it’s a long time ago. It’s 1997, so it’s uh don’t remember too much, but I remember enough, but there’s a lot of legends that I grew up playing against that uh that I just love uh growing up and watching them play. Including playoffs, only six players have played more games in the NHL than you. You know, you got the gold medals, you got the Art Ross, you got the heart trophy. When you look back, what are you most proud of in terms of your career? Uh I I think um going to the finals against Pit Pit the one year and then winning with Dunks uh in Vancouver was pretty special, but I think just playing so many games, meeting so many guys. That’s that’s the highlight for me. And how’s the speech coming from Monday because I mean yeah, it’s it’s it’s it’s getting there. I got some good help over here. But uh yeah, I I can’t wait to be inducted with with this great class. Looking forward to it. And one last thing, I know you have a couple kids of your own, but the joke is over the years you’ve also adopted a few sons like Austin Matthews and Mitch Marner, now Mlin Cabbrini, Will Smith. Why was it important for you to to kind of take these guys under your wing? No, I just had, you know, really good mentors when I was younger. There’s there’s a guy right here, Johnny Buick. That was my guy. Um, and yeah, you know, we just uh I always like being around the young guys. They, you know, I’m one of the older guys. They make me feel young, but um yeah, San Jose’s got some some good young players out there and it’s, you know, it’s an exciting time for them. Congratulations, Joe, and enjoy the week. Yeah. Thank you.

Joe Thornton receives his Hockey Hall of Fame blazer and ring on November 8, 2025 in Toronto.