Thornton traded to Sharks in big four-player deal

	The first overall pick in 1997, Joe Thornton has eclipsed the 20-goal mark each of the last five seasons. Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

DALLAS (Ticker) - The Boston Bruins' panic level may have reached its apex.

Mired in a lengthy slump and sitting in the basement of the Northeast Division, the Bruins on Wednesday night traded captain Joe Thornton to the San Jose Sharks for left wing Marco Sturm, defenseman Brad Stuart and center Wayne Primeau.

A three-time All-Star who signed a three-year, $20 million contract this past summer, Thornton was leading the Bruins in scoring this season, collecting nine goals and 24 assists in 23 games. The first overall pick in 1997, he has eclipsed the 20-goal mark each of the last five seasons, including a season-high 37 tallies in 2000-01.

The Bruins, who made a number of offseason acquisitions to help improve a team that squandered a three-games-to-one lead to Montreal in the 2004 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, currently are 8-13-5 and have just one win in their last 10 games.

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