Boston Bruins: Top 30 Draft Picks of All Time

7. Joe Thornton – 1997 – 1st Overall

Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Bruins and Joe Thornton will forever be linked after the team selected him with the 1st overall pick in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. Joe Thornton saw a ton of success while wearing the black and gold, skating in 532 games  and posting 169 goals and 285 assists for 454 points in that time. While Joe Thornton showed that he was one of the best players in the NHL throughout his tenure as a member of the Boston Bruins, it wasn’t until he was traded to the San Jose Sharks that he really showed what he was capable of.

In one of the most shocking trades in Boston Bruins history, the team sent then-captain Joe Thronton to the San Jose Sharks, a team that he has found success with ever since. In his 786 games with the Sharks, Joe Thornton has scored 194 goals and added 631 assists for 825 points. His career totals add up to an impressive 363 goals and 916 assists for 1279 points in his 1318 career NHL games. In addition to his point scoring ability, Thornton has amassed a total of 1071 penalty minutes in his career, showing that he isn’t afraid to his huge frame to his advantage.

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