San Jose Sharks fans showed up in droves to SAP Center on Saturday to pay tribute to one of hockey’s all-time greats, larger-than-life personality “Jumbo” Joe Thornton.

"San Jose is his city and the Sharks are his team," former teammate Joe Pavelski said in his first public appearance at the Shark Tank since retiring last season in Dallas. Thornton played 1,714 regular-season games over his career, recording 1,109 assists ...

Last night was special for the San Jose Sharks organization as they raised Joe Thornton's No. 19 banner to the rafters, but it meant even more to Macklin Celebrini.

His jersey retirement ceremony Saturday was an opportunity for his former San Jose teammates to dish out the compliments for his play, leadership, and friendship in tributes that repeatedly forced him to wipe away tears on an emotional afternoon.

So, on the day his No. 19 would be retired and hoisted into the arena rafters by the San Jose Sharks, why would he start now? “San Jose, give me that love!” he screamed into the microphone after strutting onto the stage.

Jumbo Joe made everyone in attendance emotional. With tears flowing, he thanked every single person who had crossed paths with him. From former teammates, coaches, mentors, and his family, the future Hall of Famer made sure not to leave anyone out who had an impact on him and his career.

Sharks fans are getting ready to honor a legend on the ice as the team and the city are holding a “Joe Thornton Retirement Weekend.”

Joe Thornton's iconic No. 19 is officially in the rafters of the SAP Center, and the greatest San Jose Sharks player of all time has now become the second player in team history to earn the honor of a retired jersey number.

Amid everything that happened this weekend before the San Jose Sharks raised No. 19 to the rafters at SAP Center, one thing struck Ryan Warsofsky about those standout teams that Joe Thornton led years ago.

In weekend centered around honoring the greatness of Sharks legend Joe Thornton, you couldn't help but feel like every single one of the 17,435 members of SAP Center's sellout crowd were being celebrated too.