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Thornton: ‘I wanted to be a Bruin as long as possible’ 06.04.10 at 2:37 pm ET
By DJ Bean

Speaking with the media Friday afternoon in a conference call, newly re-upped Bruins forward Shawn Thornton and general manager Peter Chiarelli hit on what led to the tough winger’s two-year extension.

“I wanted to be a Bruin as long as possible,” Thornton said. I love the city, I love being here and I’m still here so I’m really happy to be back and I’m glad we could make it happen.”

With the team just three weeks away from adding a wunderkind prospect in the NHL draft, Chiarelli spoke of what it means to retain a key veteran when seeing an influx of youth.

“It’s important to have any good veteran to help out with the younger guys,” Chiarelli said. “Shawn’s career path has not been the easiest and he commands a level of respect for that reason. … He’s put in his time and he’s put in his work and he’s been rewarded for it.”

Chiarelli also spoke of the team’s ongoing plan of adding players that are “tough to play against.” He once again mentioned the trade market as a means for continuing to build such a squad but also maintained that Thornton, who he referred to as “a terrific soldier” who is “always among the leaders in fisticuffs,” fits the bill.
When asked whether the disappointing second-round exit in seven games to the Flyers has added any determination entering next season, Thornton was a bit slow to answer, almost confused by the notion.
“I like to think I’m always kind of starving,” Thornton said. “[The series] left a bad taste in my mouth but I try to come in and prepare the same way every year.”
Thornton finished fifth in the NHL this past season with 21 fighting majors. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and Chiarelli and the Bruins felt confident all along that a deal would be reached before he could hit the market.
“It was something that we wanted to do and we’ve talked about it for a while with Shawn and his group,” Chiarelli said, later adding, “We knew we would get it done beforehand.

“It was a good decision that we made, it was a relatively easy decision that we made and we’re happy to have him back.”

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  • Deano

    First step in recreating this pathetic bruins team. Thank you Bruins for signing Thornton, maybe next year he can dress for every game.
    Next step, Bruins resign Seidenberg.
    Draft Hall or Seguin.
    Most Importantly stop being so conservative and trade for a big name.
    Trade whatever it takes for Iginla, Calgary is selling parts (i.e. Phaneuf who we should have traded for) and Bruins have 8 draft picks in 1st two rounds in 2010 and 2011 (other than Hall pick), a vezina winning goalie Tim Thomas (trade bait) I would trade him for Evander Kane straight up to make cap room, and if they can get iginla they can add blake wheeler or zach hamill or ryder or Mcquad to the deal if needed. Do it, adding Iginla provides exactly the type of person this team needs:
    1. A big name winger who can score and put fans in the seats after a horrible season. Put him with Savard and watch the magic.
    2. Veteran leadership, Iginla is quite possibly the best all around player in the nhl (toughness, goal scoring, passing, skating, hitting, playoff experience). I think he is only 31 or so and would be a great example for a young power forward like Lucic to learn from.

    Bruins have built from net out correctly with Rask, Chara, Seidenberg, Stuart, Boychuk, Ference, Wideman, Hunwick. They do not need any more d men. They need some offensive punch at the winger position. Hall or seguin is not enough. Rookies should not be expected to produce the way Iginla will no matter how much hype surrounds them. But do not pass on Hall or seguin for Iginla, Bruins have enough draft picks to make this happen without including the Hall / seguin pick. Don’t forget we have Toronto’s 1st and 2nd round picks in 2010 and 2011.

  • Bo

    Deano, you can wish all you want but Flames have said they will not trade Iginla. Sure you would trade “Tim Thomas (trade bait) I would trade him for Evander Kane straight up to make cap room,” but the Thrashers would laugh in your face. They will not trade Evander Kane. Dream on.

  • Deano

    Well Bo, I did not realize you were a GM. Good thing you did not even consider what i said.

    First I mentioned Iginla because there were rumors the flames were shopping him to the Bruins for the Hall pick. If you actually believe what a GM says to the media you are a moron. Look it up yourself, back during the season when they traded away 24 year old Dion Phaneuf for nothing to Toronto there were plenty of Iginla trade rumors. So yes the Flames are willing move Iginla for the right price, no one is untouchable in the new NHL with a salary cap. Im not that crazy for thinking an offer of Three first round draft picks (still not including the Hall / seguin pick), a second round pick or two second round picks plus adding young players like Blake Wheeler, Mcquaid, Hamill is a reasonable trade for Iginla. If Ignila is on the trading block who can outbid the bruins with more draft picks for the player?

    Tim Thomas has to be traded, i threw the Kane thing in but I had no idea how valuable Kane is or was. Im not an Atlanta fan so I did not see much of his play, just saw him knock out Cooke and liked it alot. With 26 points as a rookie he will be too much to ask for. So you are right on that one. However, the Bruins should be able to acquire a different but similar; solid young power winger for an Vezina winning goalie who had top ten statistics last season. I know Thomas rode the pine at the end but when you look at his save % and GAA average from last year Thomas was in the Top ten of all NHL goalies, Tuuka just happened to be the #1 goalie in both categories beat him out. There are alot of teams that are desperate for goalie help (Philly, Washington, etc.) and would gladly trade with the bruins for Thomas.

    Oh yeah, and forgot to mention but my next step “resign seidenburg” is exactly what happened.

    But since your such an expert what would you do? Or do you just shoot down others and come up with no ideas of your own?

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