Bruins believe Thornton is no ordinary Joe

Sporting News, The, June 30, 1997 by Larry Wigge

One of Joe Thornton's fellow first-round hopefuls approaches him in a corridor just outside Pittsburgh's Civic Arena, an hour before the NHL draft. "Got a dollar?" he asks. "I want to get a pop."

Thornton searches his pockets and finds a couple of dollar and change.

"You're going to break me," he says.

He laughs, turns to another top prospect and says, "I've got $48 in my bank account. ... Maybe I'll have a few dollars more after the draft."

You can count on it.

The Bruins reportedly offered Thornton a four-year, $6 million contract immediately after grabbing the 6-4, 198-pound center with the first overall pick.

Some compare Thornton to Wayne Gretzky because he passes the puck so well. Others say he plays like Eric Lindros because of his size. Truth be told, Thornton more closely resembles Mario Lemieux, without the Super Mario flare for the super-human performance.

Thornton recorded 41 goals and 81 assists in 59 games for Sault Ste. Marie of the Ontario Hockey League last season, but he disappointed with his performance in the World Junior Championships, and he wasn't the best player in the game for top prospects.

"Thornton's a cut above everything we've seen for a while in the draft," Panthers president Bill Torrey says. "He's got great size, terrific hands ... but if people think he's going to pick up a franchise and carry it for years, that's unreasonable."

That's why any early comparisons to Gretzky, Lindros and Lemieux are short on fact and long on wishful thinking.

Thornton clearly was the prime choice of this draft, which, by most accounts, was the deepest since 1979, when Rob Ramage was selected first and future Hall of Famers Mike Gartner, Ray Bourque, Michel Goulet, Kevin Lowe and Mark Messier followed.

"This is the same as the Bruins getting Raymond Bourque in 1979," says Bruins G.M. Harry Sinden, who might have said something similar back in 1982, when Boston used the first overall pick on defenseman Gord Kluzak, who never developed into a top star during seven injury-riddled NHL seasons.

But Sinden can be excused for his enthusiasm -- especially if you take into account Boston's other first-round draft choice, left winger Sergei Samsonov, who arrived with the eighth overall pick. That pick was acquired from Carolina.

The Bruins earned the first overall pick by virtue of their NHL-worst team record, which also forced them to miss the playoffs for the first time since 1967. But with the hiring of coach Pat Burns, the rebirth of goalie Jim Carey, the addition of Thornton and Samsonov and one or two more deals, Boston might make a quantum leap from worst-to-first runner-up in the Northeast Division.

"Training camp, that will be the big test," says Thornton, whose dirty-blond hair soon may become as recognizable among Boston's youngsters as Bobby Orr's bowlegged skating style.

The real deals

With Stanley Cup finalists Detroit and Philadelphia entering the draft without first-round picks, the potential was there for some heavy trading. But tough guy Mike Peluso going from St. Louis to the Rangers as compensation for the Blues' hiring of new G.M. Larry Pleau wasn't what we had in mind.

Goalie Rick Tabaracci was traded by Tampa Bay back to Calgary for a fourth-round pick, and left winger Shawn Burr went from Tampa Bay to San Jose for a fifth-rounder, but that was it. There was, however, some comparative shopping that could lead to some interesting summer discussions.

Edmonton offered center Jason Arnott and the draft's 14th pick for the Islanders' fourth and fifth overall picks. Tampa Bay reportedly almost dealt defenseman Roman Hamrlik to Carolina for left winger Geoff Sanderson, and Ottawa shopped former first-round picks Alexandre Daigle and Radek Bonk.

Calgary reportedly offered right winger Theo Fleury to San Jose for the second overall pick and continued to shop left winger Gary Roberts, who sat out last season with a neck injury. Boston asked St. Louis about Brett Hull and Al MacInnis, and Montreal, Philadelphia and the Islanders reportedly talked to Toronto about goaltender Felix Potvin.

And don't forget, free-agent shopping begins July 1, with Joe Sakic, Mike Modano, Sergei Fedorov, Paul Kariya, Alexander Mogilny, Tony Amonte, Petr Nedved, Mark Messier, Igor Larionov and Luke Richardson topping a lot of lists.

Icy bits

Everyone wanted to know why the Islanders grabbed goaltender Roberto Luongo with their first pick when they already have Tommy Salo and Eric Fichaud. One reason is that Luongo is closer to Patrick Roy than any goaltending prospect to come out of the Quebec Hockey League since Martin Brodeur. Another is that the Islanders plan to use one of those goalies and defenseman Bryan McCabe to obtain a veteran on offense -- maybe Gary Roberts or Montreal's Shayne Corson. As the No. 4 pick, Luongo became the highest-drafted goalie in history-one notch higher than Ray Martiniuk (Montreal) in 1970, John Davidson (St. Louis) in '74 and Tom Barrasso (Buffalo) in '83. ... With Detroit's Vladimir Konstantinov still in a coma, the Red Wings may be more interested in Luke Richardson than originally expected. Colorado's Sergei Gusarov is another defenseman on Detroit's list. ... The Mighty Ducks have sent some compensation scenarios to the Flames, meaning Anaheim is serious about signing former Calgary coach Pierre Page. Top candidate for the Flames' opening is former St. Louis and Boston coach Brian Sutter. ... New Maple Leafs president Ken Dryden reportedly is close to hiring Serge Savard as his new general manager. Insiders say Mike Keenan is Savard's choice as coach. ... Why was former San Jose assistant Wayne Cashman smiling on draft day? Because he's about to replace Terry Murray as Flyers coach. ... Buffalo coach Ted Nolan, on being jerked around by management before becoming a free agent July 1: "I want to come back. I'll be patient a little longer, but not too long." Nolan would bolt for Detroit in a minute if Scotty Bowman decided to retire.