Four-time National Hockey League (NHL) All-Star Joe Thornton put an end to his 24-year-long career by announcing his retirement on Saturday.

"Judging how many people keep asking me, I guess I have to tell you, I'm officially retiring from the NHL," Thornton said. "I thought you guys would figure it out sooner, but you kept asking so here I am retiring. I have so much love for the game of hockey and for countless number of people that helped this kid's dream become a reality. If you're looking for me, you know where to find me. I'll be at the rink."

The last time Thornton played an NHL game was on May 23, 2022, with the Florida Panthers. He has played 1,714 regular season games, the sixth-most in the league's history, scored 430 goals and 1,109 assists, the seventh-most of all time, and ranked 12th in points, since he was drafted by the Boston Bruins with the first-overall pick in 1997.

Having played for four teams during his career – the Bruins, the San Jose Sharks, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Panthers – Thornton reached his peak in San Jose during the 2005-06 campaign when he secured both the Hart Trophy for the Most Valuable Player and the Art Ross Trophy for the scoring leader.

Thornton never won the Stanley Cup. On his only trip to the finals in 2016, the Sharks lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2. Despite that, the team went through their most successful era during the 15 seasons with him, missing the playoffs only twice. They were 53-18 in the 2008-09 campaign and won the Presidents' Trophy.

When the Sharks retire Thornton's No. 19 jersey, it will hang next to the No. 12 of his teammate Patrick Marleau at SAP Center.