Former Sharks C Joe Thornton signs with another new team — no, not HC Davos

Joe Thornton headed home to Toronto last offseason, leaving behind 15 years of Sharks history in San Jose.

Now, after a year with the Maple Leafs, Thornton is going back to a warmer climate. He’s joining the Florida Panthers, the team announced Friday morning.

Thornton, the Sharks’ No. 2 scorer of all time behind former running mate Patrick Marleau, reportedly signed for the veteran’s minimum to join a Panthers team that finished second in the reconfigured Central division last year before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning in the playoffs.

“With more than 1,600 games played in the NHL, Joe will bring a wealth of experience to our locker room and lineup,” Panthers general manager Bill Zito said in a press release. “His drive to succeed is unmistakable and we are thrilled that he chose to sign with our club and that he believes in what we are building here in South Florida.”

At age 42, the NHL’s active points leader joins a team that was the eighth-youngest in the NHL last season with an average age of just under 26.5.

In 44 games with the Leafs last season, Thornton had five goals, 15 assists and a +6 plus/minus rating.

As for another active Sharks legend, the 41-year-old Marleau is an unrestricted free agent after returning to San Jose for the last two seasons and passing Hall of Famer Gordie Howe for the NHL record for games played.

After coming to the Sharks in a 2005 trade from Boston, Thornton paired with Marleau as the top two picks from the 1997 draft and led San Jose to the playoffs in 13 of his 15 seasons in teal. He is the team’s all-time leader in assists, with 804.

The Sharks play at Florida on Jan. 29 and face the Panthers at home on March 15.