Boston Bruins: Would a Joe Thornton reunion make sense?

The NHL Trade Deadline is less than a month away. Could the Boston Bruins target a former player in Joe Thornton or is that too bold of a question?

The Boston Bruins will have plenty of options to choose from at the upcoming trade deadline. The variety of options gets thinner when we talk about the assets the Bruins would be willing to concede or the salary-cap space they (don’t) posses. Would Joe Thornton be a fit for the Bruins?

As NBC Sports Boston suggested; a Joe Thornton reunion with the Boston Bruins would close out the circle for both the club and a player. Just remember Ray Bourque winning his only Stanley Cup at his final season after being unsuccessful all career-long with the Bruins.

First of all, his salary wouldn’t be such a big problem for Boston, it’s only $2 million until the rest of this season. Perhaps, acquiring him, if he provides a green light to such a trade, wouldn’t be costly either. The San Jose Sharks are really struggling and are more than 10 points out of the playoffs.

More from Rumors

• Report: Bruins reportedly interested in young Ottawa center
• 3 players the Bruins can, 3 players could trade, 3 players they shouldn’t trade
• NHL Network lists Ullmark as sixth-best goalie in the league
• Bruins potentially interested in these veteran forwards
• Bruins Potential Trade Targets: Who They Would, Should and Could Target

After handling away so many assets and draft picks to acquire Erik Karlsson, Evander Kane and Gustav Nyquist over the years; trading away players like him, Brenden Dillon or Melker Karlson would bring back at least some amount of draft picks.

“I need to think about that,” said Joe Thornton about whether he would think of leaving San Jose to play for a contender. Returning to the Boston Bruins would have its negatives, as well.

In 2005, when Thornton was traded to San Jose, he completed the season with 125 points, which stands as his career-best. However, those years are well gone for the 40-year-old veteran. One thing is sure, he would be welcomed ‘back home’, and he is not going to win the Stanley Cup with the Sharks this season. The future outlook doesn’t look much brighter, either.

Joe Thornton is a left-shot center. He would presumably play on the Bruins third line, helping wingers as Danton Heinen, Anders Bjork, Zach Senyshyn, or Karson Kuhlman. Are the Bruins going to forfeit the idea of Charlie Coyle playing as a center and unleash him offensively as the second-line right-winger?

Who knows, maybe it would be worth a try. There have been some suggestions that possibly Coyle could supply David Krejci as a center and Krejci himself could play on the right-wing from time to time.

Thornton had 51 points last year (including a hat-trick versus Boston!), and has 19 points in 50 games this season. He would be tough to bear down, tough to beat in the heavyweight matchups versus either Tampa Bay, Washington, or St. Louis, why not.

The 40-year-old center would bring a bit of offense, leadership, willingness to win, and a much-needed toughness for the Boston Bruins.

Nevertheless, that train has probably already passed. It seems impossible. Despite that, Joe Thornton’s comeback to Boston to finish his career would be poetic, and it’s an interesting thought, to say the least.