Joe Thornton once offered in-game advice to his opponents

Nate Thompson played over 800 games in the NHL and heard his fair share of chirping. But one moment stands out—when he was on the receiving end of a very talkative Joe Thornton.

Joe Thornton was inducted into the Hall of Fame earlier in November, earning the honor in his first year of eligibility. That’s hardly surprising when you look at his numbers: 1,714 games and 1,539 points over 24 seasons speak for themselves.

Joe Thornton funny

But Thornton wasn’t just a great player. He was, and still is, a hilarious personality who always knows how to make people smile—even his opponents. Nate Thompson learned that firsthand while playing for the Winnipeg Jets during the COVID-19 season in 2020–21.

Had dinner together

Thompson was drafted by the Boston Bruins in 2003 and, over his 15 NHL seasons, also suited up for the New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and Winnipeg Jets. During the 2020–21 season, Thompson was playing for the Jets, while Thornton was with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The two had met in Hawaii during a bye week, where they had dinner and spent some time together. But when the Jets and Maple Leafs faced off once the season resumed, Thornton chirped Thompson and his linemates in a way Thompson will never forget. Speaking on the Scrum Culture podcast, Thompson recalled the moment.

Perfect chirp

“I’m playing on a line with Trevor Lewis and Mathieu Perreault. We’re coming back to the bench, and Jumbo starts chirping Lewis, making fun of him for shooting the puck too much. ‘What are you trying to do, get your Corsi up? You guys gotta play with the puck a little bit. You gotta make some plays, hold onto it a little more,’” Thompson says.
“Like—we’re playing against him. He’s giving us advice during the game, and he’s laughing, and their bench is laughing, and our bench is laughing,” Thompson adds on the podcast.
You can watch the hilarious memory below.