Joe and John Thornton show hockey success can be kept all in the family
For hockey agent John Thornton, there is nothing he finds truly odd or fascinating between his relationship with his most famous client and some of his other players. Well, except for one small tidbit.
“Being the agent of a brother is not different, but being the brother of a superstar is pretty (freaking) cool,” John said.
Since 2006, John and Joe Thornton, the San Jose Sharks star center, have formed maybe the easiest, most workable dynamic between an agent and a player. Basically, John negotiates Joe’s deals, and Joe trusts his brother with his life.
“You don’t hear of too many brothers who represent their own little brother,” Joe said. “It has worked out perfectly because he’s such a bright guy and knows so much about everything and not just about hockey, but for me I’m lucky in that rather than give my money to a big firm or something, I can keep it in the family.”
Kinda sounds like a Canadian version of the TV show “Entourage” but in more polite hockey, non-Hollywood terms.
In all seriousness, in light of the Jack Johnson news, it’s good to see an all-in-the-family NHL business relationship that’s working out.
John has a law degree and a business degree. In fact, amongst the three Thornton boys – there’s another brother – Joe may be the least distinguished academically. His oldest brother also has an advanced degree.
“Alex and John, you sometimes pretend what they’re talking about, but you have no idea,” Joe said. “They’re both intellects and very smart people. I enjoy talking to both because you can learn so much from them. I’m just fortunate to have two very intelligent brothers.”
In many ways, the Thornton laid-back family demeanor works in this agent-brother relationship. Along with the trust that comes along with Joe’s deals, even if John spouts off in the media, Joe just laughs it off.
“Oh, there has been times, and I’m like, ‘John has been talking to so-and-so,’” Joe said. “He’s always going to have my back and that’s what you want from an agent and that’s what you want from your brother as well. Knowing he can do no wrong for me.”
Interestingly, Joe decided to make John his agent at a critical time in his career. It was at the height of Joe’s powers in the midst of a trade from the Bruins to San Jose – a move where Joe turned into perennial Hart Trophy candidate. John has helped negotiate all of Joe’s Sharks contracts. And as his agent, sometimes they don’t quite see eye-to-eye on the deals, though Joe can’t quite complain in a career that has seen him make over $83.1 million in earnings (per CapGeek).
“Joe doesn’t get the best deal possible, because he won’t let me,” said John in the most joking way an agent can possibly say. “Joe doesn’t want the best deal possible. That’s why he stayed in San Jose.”
But this is part of a modus operandi for John that should make sense for an agent. You lead the horse to water, but ultimately it’s the athlete that makes the final call, not the dude in the suit.
“I’d say with my clients, I give them the best advice I know, but they’re still the boss,” said John, whose client roster also includes the Sharks’ Logan Couture and New Jersey Devils’ Adam Henrique. “I never try to put myself above the player or think I’m important.”
While it’s easy to be mistrustful of agents, there’s a sense of realness to what John has to say. He’s an outdoorsman and more of an intellectually curious person than simply a “hockey guy,” which is refreshing when you talk to him. He sees the game for what it is, not what it was.
Also, despite being from Ontario, John claims he’d know way less about hockey if his brother wasn’t a superstar.
“Joe knows everything,” John said. “The only reason I know anything about hockey is because I listen to my brother. My knowledge is from listening to my brother and following my brother. He tells me hockey, and I kind of trust his opinion. “
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