from Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe,

If his fists were his primary tools for NHL employment, Shawn Thornton would be out of work. Former peers and current casualties of the NHL’s retreat from fighting include John Scott and Brandon Prust, two players, given the intimacy of the enforcers’ club, whose résumés include dust-ups with Thornton.

That Thornton is under contract for his 20th season — and likeliest his last — of professional hockey underscores how the rest of the ex-Bruin’s assets remain too valuable for the Panthers to be without. As his once-busy knuckles now stay mostly hidden within his gloves, Thornton has guaranteed himself a $600,000 payday not just because he’s good in the room or has two fingers decorated with rings.

The 39-year-old can still play.

Last season, Thornton scored one goal and four assists in 50 games while averaging 8:41 of ice time per outing. Thornton landed 58 pucks on net, giving him a rate of 7.99 shots on goal per 60 minutes of play.

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