What is Joe Thornton?
{{Infobox ice hockey player | image = Joe Thornton 2016.jpg | image_size = 230px | caption = Thornton with the Sharks in 2016 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|7|2}} | birth_place = [[London, Ontario|London]], [[Ontario]], Canada | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4 | weight_lb = 220 | position = [[Centre (ice hockey)|Centre]] | shoots = Left | played_for = [[Boston Bruins]]<br>[[HC Davos]]<br>[[San Jose Sharks]]<br>[[Toronto Maple Leafs]]<br>[[Florida Panthers]] | ntl_team = CAN | draft = 1st overall | draft_year = 1997 | draft_team = [[Boston Bruins]] | career_start = 1997 | career_end = 2022 }} '''Joseph Eric Thornton''' (born July 2, 1979) is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] former professional [[ice hockey]] [[Centre (ice hockey)|centre]]. He played parts of 24 seasons in the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL). He played for the [[Boston Bruins]], [[San Jose Sharks]], [[Toronto Maple Leafs]], and [[Florida Panthers]]. He also played 2 seasons with [[HC Davos]] of [[National League (ice hockey)|National League A]] (NLA). He is known by the nickname Jumbo Joe which is a reference to the elephant [[Jumbo]], which died in his hometown.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/life/travel/2010/09/08/jumbo_the_elephant_leaves_a_big_legend_in_southern_ontario.html|access-date=April 1, 2024|title=Habs Break Free From Bruins|publisher=[[Toronto Star]]}}</ref> Thornton also played international ice hockey with [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|Canada]] and won a gold medal with them at the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] in [[Vancouver]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/en/news/vancouver-2010-ends-in-wild-celebrations-after-canadian-ice-hockey-victory|access-date=April 1, 2024|title=Vancouver 2010 ends in wild celebrations after Canadian ice hockey victory|publisher=[[Olympics]]}}</ref> On August 13, 2021, Thornton signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Florida Panthers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/joe-thornton-signs-deal-with-florida/c-325963208?tid=281072352|access-date=April 1, 2024|title