After 15 incredible seasons with the San Jose Sharks, Joe Thornton has decided to move on. The veteran is leaving the Bay after signing a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It'll take some time for Sharks fans to get used to seeing Joe Thornton in a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey. Watching Jumbo skate in blue instead of teal just doesn't feel right.
But Thornton sure seemed happy with his decision after his team debut on Wednesday, especially with his intro video.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
There's no blaming the 41-year-old Thornton for wanting to join the Maple Leafs. It both brought the veteran home as his career wanes, and also gave him a better chance of finally winning a Stanley Cup. The Maple Leafs went 36-25-9 and lost in the qualifying round for the playoffs last season. Meanwhile, the Sharks went just 29-36-5 and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
Toronto beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 in overtime in Wednesday's season opener. Thornton played 17 minutes and 30 seconds in his team debut.
RELATED: Five bold Sharks predictions ahead of 2021 NHL season
As far as re-watching his team intro, Thornton will have to turn to Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews, who is just 18 years younger than him.
Thornton spent 15 seasons with the Sharks and finds his name all over San Jose's record books. No matter how hard it is to watch him on a different team, Sharks fans no doubt will be rooting for Thornton from afar.