Post by Phunkette on Aug 17, 2004 23:35:01 GMT -5
The Boston Bruins will accept an arbitrator's award of $6.75 million on a one-year contract for center Joe Thornton, it was announced today by Bruins General Manager Mike O'Connell. Thornton's arbitration hearing was held on Sunday, August 15th and, in keeping with the 48-hour time frame for a decision as set forth in the collective bargaining agreement, arbitrator James Duff announced his decision this evening.
"We feel that the arbitrator came up with a fair award for both sides and we never considered exercising our walk-away option with Joe," said O'Connell. "As I've said before, Joe is a cornerstone of this franchise. He has developed into one of the top all-around players in the league today and I believe that Joe's best is still to come."
Thornton, 25, has led the Bruins in scoring in each of the last two seasons, including career-high totals of 36 goals and 65 assists for 101 points in 2002-03 when he finished third overall in the NHL's scoring race and was named an NHL Second Team All-Star. He reached the 20+ goal mark for the fifth straight season in 2003-04 with 23 goals and 50 assists for 73 points in 77 games. He has played in each of the last three NHL All-Star Games.
The 6'4", 225 lb. native of St. Thomas, Ontario enters his eighth NHL season following two seasons of junior hockey with Sault Ste. Marie of the Ontario Hockey League. He was selected by Boston as the first overall pick of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft and has led the team in scoring three times in his career, including in 2000-01 when he became just the second player in team history to led the team in goals, assists, points and penalty minutes and in 2002-03 when he became just the third player in club history to score 100+ points while accumulating 100+ penalty minutes.
Thornton was named the 17th Captain in franchise history on October 8, 2002. He has career NHL totals of 160 goals and 261 assists for 421 points with 611 penalty minutes in 509 career Bruins games. He is scheduled to play for Team Canada at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey Tournament which opens training camp on August 20th.
"We feel that the arbitrator came up with a fair award for both sides and we never considered exercising our walk-away option with Joe," said O'Connell. "As I've said before, Joe is a cornerstone of this franchise. He has developed into one of the top all-around players in the league today and I believe that Joe's best is still to come."
Thornton, 25, has led the Bruins in scoring in each of the last two seasons, including career-high totals of 36 goals and 65 assists for 101 points in 2002-03 when he finished third overall in the NHL's scoring race and was named an NHL Second Team All-Star. He reached the 20+ goal mark for the fifth straight season in 2003-04 with 23 goals and 50 assists for 73 points in 77 games. He has played in each of the last three NHL All-Star Games.
The 6'4", 225 lb. native of St. Thomas, Ontario enters his eighth NHL season following two seasons of junior hockey with Sault Ste. Marie of the Ontario Hockey League. He was selected by Boston as the first overall pick of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft and has led the team in scoring three times in his career, including in 2000-01 when he became just the second player in team history to led the team in goals, assists, points and penalty minutes and in 2002-03 when he became just the third player in club history to score 100+ points while accumulating 100+ penalty minutes.
Thornton was named the 17th Captain in franchise history on October 8, 2002. He has career NHL totals of 160 goals and 261 assists for 421 points with 611 penalty minutes in 509 career Bruins games. He is scheduled to play for Team Canada at the upcoming World Cup of Hockey Tournament which opens training camp on August 20th.
