MI: Joe

Jim Morris of the CP writes:

Stopping NHL scoring leader Joe Thornton is mission impossible, says San Jose Sharks coach Ron Wilson.

...snip…

One of the Oilers who will try and control Thornton is
Chris Pronger. At six-foot-six and 220 pounds, the veteran defenceman has the size and experience to go toe-to-toe with Thornton.

“I don’t know if you can compare him to anybody,” said Pronger, who averaged an amazing 33 minutes 34 seconds of ice time as Edmonton defeated Detroit in six games during the first round of the playoffs.

Watching Thornton on the ice today reminds me of a prime Mario Lemieux.  The game appears to slow down when he has the puck.  It’s not that it actually has, he seems to be moving at normal speed, making decisions that might actually seem slow, while everyone else appears even slower.

Thornton’s time warp helped him lead the league in points this season and come close to 100 assists on the season.  It’s easy to make that decision when you seem to have more time to do so than everyone else.

This was Thornton’s 8th season in the league (would have been his 9th if it weren’t for the lockout).  He’s a long-time NHL vet who turns just 27-years old in July and should help the Sharks for many more years.

Posted by David M Singer on May 07, 2006 at 09:33 PM
NHL

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