Joe Thornton is coming back for another season at age 40, signing a one-year, $2 million contract with the San Jose Sharks after briefly contemplating retirement at the end of his 21st season.
Thornton's role diminished last year as he played mostly as a third-line center and often wasn't part of the top power-play unit. But his line with Kevin Labanc and Marcus Sorensen was San Jose's most effective down the stretch, and he finished with 16 goals and 35 assists.
Thornton has 413 goals and 1,065 assists in 1,566 career games with Boston and San Jose. He ranks 14th in points and needs just 22 to reach 1,500 for his career. He's eighth in assists and needs 15 to pass Adam Oates. Thornton will move into the top 10 in games played with 49 this year.
... The Hurricanes signed defenseman Jake Gardiner to a four-year contract worth over $16 million. The 29-year-old Gardiner had three goals and 27 assists while playing 62 regular-season games with Toronto last season, then added two assists in seven playoff games. He has 45 goals and 200 assists during his eight-year NHL career.
basketball
Divac heads Hall of Fame class
Former NBA big men Vlade Divac and Jack Sikma head the 2019 class of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Former NBA players Sidney Moncrief, Paul Westphal, Bobby Jones, Al Attles and college basketball and WNBA star Teresa Weatherspoon also were among those inducted.
Chuck Cooper, the first black man drafted by the NBA, and Carl Braun, who played for the Knicks and other teams from 1947-1962, were inducted posthumously.
Former Gophers and longtime NBA coach Bill Fitch was unable to attend for health reasons.
