Shawn Thornton’s Boston Bruins tenure is over after seven years.
Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli announced Monday on BostonBruinsTV that the team has decided not to re-sign the veteran winger, who became a free agent at the end of this past season.
“I told him that he was one of the most significant acquisitions we made,” Chiarelli said, “one, for the role that he played, and two, for the person that he is. It was nice to rehash his time; it was sad to tell him that he wasn’t coming back. I wished him well, and Shawn was real up-front about it. I wished him luck, and I’m sure he’ll have success with his next team.”
Thornton averaged just 5.1 goals and 7.0 assists per season since coming to Boston from the Anaheim Ducks in 2007, but he became one of the Bruins’ most popular players for his physical play and leadership skills, as well as his prominent role in the community.
Thornton played in 64 regular-season games and all 12 of the Bruins’ playoff games this season, totaling five goals, four assists and 78 penalty minutes.
