Playing career

Thornton was drafted in the first round (3rd overall) by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. He played thirty-three games for the team his rookie season, accumulating one goal and three assists. He also played left wing for the Edmonton Oilers, Montréal Canadiens, Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks. He was signed by San Jose as a free agent on July 1, 2000. In his first season with San Jose, he had a career year, scoring twenty goals playing alongside gritty centre Mike Ricci.

He signed a two-year contract $3.42 million contract extension in the 2003-04 season. The first season of the extension coincided with the 2004-05 NHL lockout, and after the second year, Thornton became an unrestricted free agent when the Sharks declined to pick up the one-year team option in his contract. On July 1, 2006, he signed a 2-year, $3 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings.

Thornton announced his retirement on July 28, 2008. He currently resides in Collingwood, Ontario.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1985-86	London Sabres	OMHA		55	36	29	65	22		—	—	—	—	—
1986-87	London Nationals Jr.B.	OHA		45	16	19	35	38		—	—	—	—	—
1987-88	Belleville Bulls	OHL		62	11	19	30	54		6	0	1	1	2
1988-89	Belleville Bulls	OHL		59	28	34	62	103		5	1	1	2	6
1989-90	Belleville Bulls	OHL		47	21	28	49	91		11	2	10	12	15
1990-91	Belleville Bulls	OHL		3	2	1	3	2		6	0	7	7	14
1990-91	Newmarket Saints	AHL		5	1	0	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
1990-91	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		33	1	3	4	30		—	—	—	—	—
1991-92	Cape Breton Oilers	AHL		49	9	14	23	40		5	1	0	1	8
1991-92	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		15	0	1	1	43		1	0	0	0	0
1992-93	Cape Breton Oilers	AHL		58	23	27	50	102		16	1	2	3	35
1992-93	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		9	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
1993-94	Cape Breton Oilers	AHL		2	1	1	2	31		—	—	—	—	—
1993-94	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		61	4	7	11	104		—	—	—	—	—
1994-95	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		47	10	12	22	89		—	—	—	—	—
1995-96	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		77	9	9	18	149		—	—	—	—	—
1996-97	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		73	10	10	20	128		5	1	0	1	2
1997-98	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		67	6	9	15	158		9	0	2	2	10
1998-99	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		47	7	4	11	87		—	—	—	—	—
1999-00	Dallas Stars	NHL		30	6	3	9	38		23	2	7	9	38
1999-00	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		35	2	3	5	70		—	—	—	—	—
2000-01	San Jose Sharks	NHL		73	19	17	36	114		6	3	0	3	8
2001-02	San Jose Sharks	NHL		77	26	16	42	116		12	3	3	6	6
2002-03	San Jose Sharks	NHL		41	9	12	21	41		—	—	—	—	—
2003-04	San Jose Sharks	NHL		80	13	14	27	84		12	2	2	4	22
2004-05	Södertälje SK	SEL		12	2	5	7	10		10	0	3	3	27
2005-06	San Jose Sharks	NHL		71	10	11	21	84		11	2	0	2	6
2006-07	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		58	7	6	13	85		—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		47	5	3	8	39		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				941	144	141	285	1459		79	13	14	27	82

[ Source: Wikipedia ]