Each has his name engraved on NHL hardware that reflects how special that season was a dozen years ago.



Jonathan Cheechoo captured the 2006 Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, given to the NHL's top marksman, after notching 56 goals — a Sharks franchise record not likely to be broken anytime soon. Linemate Joe Thornton racked up 96 assists and 125 points to win both the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s scoring leader and the Hart Memorial Trophy as its MVP.



The sniper and the playmaker have taken different paths since that 2005-06 season.



Thornton’s lengthy career has solidified a future spot in the Hall of Fame as one of hockey’s all-time top passers. A series of injuries, however, limited Cheechoo’s time in the NHL and that has dimmed the memory of what he accomplished. Yet even back then, some contended that Cheechoo only had his moment of greatness because he skated at right wing alongside Thornton.



Not the...