Thornton says he's '100 percent' as Sharks open camp

San Jose center Joe Thornton said he was fully recovered from knee surgery when the Sharks opened training camp on Friday.

Thornton, 39, had his 2017-18 season cut short by full tears of the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee. He played the final four games of the team's first-round playoff series following the 2016-17 season with a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee.

As camp started Friday, Thornton was on the top line with Joe Pavelski and Evander Kane.

"I've had a long time for rehab," Thornton said, per NHL.com. "Got checked out yesterday. They said ready to go."

"I was close at the end of the year last year to join the fellas. To be back healthy, it's a really good feeling."

Thornton returned to the Sharks in July with a one-year deal for his 21st season in the NHL. He has been with San Jose since arriving via trade from the Boston Bruins in 2005 and scored 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in 47 games last season.

Thornton has scored 397 goals and 1,030 assists for his career. The 2006 Hart Trophy winner is first in assists (745), points per game (1.01) and plus-minus (plus-172) in Sharks franchise history.

"We've got to be cautiously optimistic because he's had two surgeries, but he looks real good," said coach Peter DeBoer of Thornton, who last played on Jan. 23.