Joe Thornton is so close.

The San Jose Sharks center will finally play for the Stanley Cup, and he's hoping to get as close to it as he did as a 17-year-old.

His faith in the Sharks has never wavered, according to NHL.com's Nicholas Cotsonika. Thornton was at Game 4 of the 1997 Stanley Cup Final, when the Detroit Red Wings finished off the Philadelphia Flyers and Steve Yzerman became a champion for the first time.

Thornton was a top prospect at the time, eventually being drafted first overall at the 1997 draft. He took in the game with his brother John, and both were "bawling" when the Cup was lifted. In fact, John was a huge Yzerman fan, and Thornton eventually wore No. 19 in honor of the legendary Red Wings captain.

There are many similarities between Thornton and Yzerman. Before he became a Cup winner, Yzerman was never afforded the respect he truly deserved. He was a lightning rod of criticism in Detroit, and was often rumored to be on his way out of town via trade.

Thornton's career has been brilliant. He'll go down as one of the most prolific passers in the game. He was traded early in his career from the Boston Bruins to the Sharks, though, and his legacy is synonymous with the disappointing one of the Sharks. Great regular seasons, dreadful playoff defeats, and an inability to win it all.

Eventually the "C" was taken off Thornton's jersey, and many thought his days in the Bay Area were numbered. But here he is, almost 20 years after Yzerman won his Cup, chasing his own.

Over the past few weeks, Thornton's been honest about who he is: a great hockey player, but only one part of a team. And it takes a team to win a Stanley Cup. He said he wasn't bothered about losing the captaincy, and that he's comfortable in his own skin. He added that he loves to play the game and to put in the work.

"I enjoy the burn," Thornton said. "(Hockey's) the only thing I know, and I love it."

Even after the tough spring send-offs, Thornton always looked ahead positively to the upcoming seasons.

"You've got to put in the hard work in the summertime. You've just got to believe, and this can happen," he said.

"Next year" finally arrived for Thornton. All that's left is the Cup.

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