This season, Thornton has played in 67 games, registering 46 points (16 goals, 30 assists) and a plus-8 rating in 15:29 minutes of ice time per game. Since the start of December, Thornton ranks third on San Jose in assists (25) in that span, and has points in nine of his last 12 games (three goals, seven assists).

Thornton's unbridled passion for the game of hockey is matched only by his perseverance in the face of adversity. The 39-year-old forward has made not one but two remarkable comebacks from major injuries over the last two seasons, suffering a torn ACL and MCL in both his left knee (2017) and right knee in (2018). Through two grueling rehabilitation sessions, his pure love of game has never dimmed.

SAN JOSE, CA - The San Jose chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association announced today that San Jose Sharks ( @SanJoseSharks ) forward Joe Thornton has been selected as its 2019 nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy . The Masterton Trophy is awarded each season under the trusteeship of the PHWA to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

During this season, Thornton became just the 21st player in NHL history to play in at least 1,500 NHL games and is only the seventh NHL player to play in 1,500 games, collect 1,000 assists and score at least 400 goals, when he scored #400 on Nov. 13 vs. Nashville. He also picked up his fifth career hat trick on Feb. 18 vs. Boston.

With each additional game Thornton plays, he seemingly passes another of the NHL's most hallowed legends. Thus far in 2018-19, he has surpassed Gordie Howe on the NHL's all-time assist list, Stan Mikita on the NHL's all-time points list and Steve Yzerman on the NHL's all-time games played list - amongst others. All three of the players listed above are currently members of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Since joining the Sharks during the 2005-06 season, "Jumbo" has registered 244 goals, 775 assists and a plus-180 rating in 1,020 games. Only Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby have scored more points in the NHL since he arrived in San Jose. Thornton is the Sharks all-time leader in assists and plus-minus rating, and ranks second in games played and points (1,019) on the franchise's scoring list.

Entering the league in 1997, Thornton has been one of the most prolific scorers in the NHL. In 1,560 career games, he has recorded 413 goals, 1,060 assists and a plus-205 rating. He ranks ninth on the NHL's all-time assist list, 13th on the NHL's all-time games played list, and 14th on the NHL's all-time points list (1,473).

The 39-year-old is a six-time NHL All-Star (2002-04, 2007-09), and won both the Art Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy during the 2005-06 season. He was also named an NHL First-Team All-Star in 2006 and has been an NHL Second-Team All-Star three times (2003, 2008, 2016).

Drafted first overall during the 1997 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins, he also has represented Canada on numerous occasions, most recently winning the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

The Masterton Trophy winner is selected from a poll of the 30 chapters of the PHWA at the end of the regular season and a $2,500 grant from the PHWA is awarded annually to the Bill Masterton Scholarship Fund, based in Bloomington, Minn., in the name of the winner.

The PHWA first presented the Masterton Trophy in 1968 to commemorate the late Bill Masterton, a player with the Minnesota North Stars, who exhibited, to a high degree, the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Masterton died Jan. 15, 1968 following an injury suffered in a game.

Former Shark Tony Granato received the award in 1997. This year's winner will be named at the NHL's annual awards presentation in Las Vegas.