Panthers sign Thornton to two-year contract

Shawn Thornton said over the phone that despite leaving his comfortable spot in Boston, he's "just happy to get a job." With the enforcer role disappearing throughout the league, he knows he can contribute in other ways on the ice.

The Florida Panthers moved quickly to add more toughness to their roster with the signing of forward Shawn Thornton.

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/484023862602915840

Thornton, 36, has spent the last seven seasons with the Boston Bruins after joining the organization as an unrestricted free agent. In 64 games in 2013-14, Thornton contributed five goals with three assists and 74 penalty minutes.

Prior to joining Boston, the enforcer played one year in Anaheim, and parts of three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks after he was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the seventh round (190th overall) in the 1997 NHL Draft.

Thornton joins forwards Dave Bolland and Jussi Jokinen, who signed free agent deals with the Panthers as NHL free agency opened Tuesday morning.

Over his 11-year career, Thornton has won two Stanley Cups – 2006-07 with Anaheim ands 2010-11 with Boston.

July 1, 2014

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Shawn Thornton
SIGNED BY
Florida Panthers
LENGTH
2 yrs
CONTRACT TYPE
Free Agency
SALARY CAP HIT
$1.2 million
TOTAL
$2.4 million

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