Coming off his second reconstructive knee surgery in as many years, 39-year-old Joe Thornton isn't concerned with any ill effects as he gears up for his 14th season with the San Jose Sharks.

Thornton missed the final 35 games of the regular season and all of the Sharks' playoff run after tearing his ACL and MCL in his right knee in January, nine months after doing the same to his left. Back-to-back injuries of such severity could spell doom for anyone's career, but Thornton, a future Hall of Famer who's never been particularly fleet of foot, is expecting to be the same player he's always been once back in uniform.

"They've said that since I've been 16 years old, and I think I've had a pretty good career," Thornton told Kevin Kurz of The Athletic when asked about his speed.

"I think when I'm out there I dictate the play. It doesn't matter who I play against, I usually dictate the play. I've had that criticism for 22 years. I think I've kept up pretty good."

Thornton managed to record 36 points in 47 games last season and signed a one-year contract worth a reported $5 million in July. He's expected to be in the lineup when San Jose's season opens Oct. 3 versus the Anaheim Ducks and is just seven games shy of reaching the 1,500 mark for his career.

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