Few players know the difference between playing in the minors and playing in the NHL as well as Thornton. In 2014 he became the third player to appear in 600 NHL games and 600 American Hockey League games and the first to reach that mark in the NHL after first doing so in the AHL.

Though he's flashed offensive skill, Thornton has stayed in the League by playing the role of a board-crashing fourth-line enforcer. That style has made him a favorite among fans and teammates and helped two teams (the 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks and 2010-11 Boston Bruins) win the Stanley Cup.

A native of Oshawa, Ontario, Thornton was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the seventh round (No. 190) of the 1997 NHL Draft. On Sept. 30, 2001, Toronto traded him to the Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he made his NHL debut (Oct. 10, 2002) and scored his first NHL goal (Oct. 26, 2002).

After three seasons in Chicago, Thornton signed with Anaheim for the 2006-07 season. A year later he signed with the Bruins, going on to play seven seasons in Boston.

Thornton signed with the Florida Panthers in July of 2014.