Sharks C Joe Thornton needs ACL surgery before free agency

Published April 24, 2017

San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton will undergo surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left knee before becoming a potential free agent this summer.

Thornton tore the ACL and MCL in his knee on April 2 in Vancouver but still returned to play San Jose's final four playoff games in a first-round loss to Edmonton. The Sharks say Thornton will have the operation Monday and there is no timetable for when he will be healthy again.

The 37-year-old Thornton can become an unrestricted free agent this summer, putting his future in San Jose in question. He has been the face of the Sharks, along with fellow 37-year-old pending free agent Patrick Marleau. Both players said at locker clean out day that they would like to return.

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