Joe Thornton to play in Switzerland but could return to NHL

Longtime NHL veteran Joe Thornton has signed with Switzerland club HC Davos but hasn't ruled out one last stint with the North American league. 

As ESPN explained, the 41-year-old has a Swiss passport and met his wife while playing in Switzerland with HC Davos during the 2004-05 NHL lockout. Thornton also played for HC Davos in 2012-13.

"It will be a lot of fun to play for HC Davos again in the championship," Thornton said in a statement provided by the club and shared by ESPN. "The boys and I have been training together all summer, and I am very happy to be fighting serious battles for the HCD again."

Thornton's contract does allow him to return to the NHL when the league resumes play amid the coronavirus pandemic. The NHL is targeting Jan. 1 as the start date for the upcoming season, but, as Greg Wyshynski wrote for ESPN, Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley recently said during an appearance on KSHP's Vegas Hockey Hotline that he believes a shortened campaign won't begin until Feb. 1 with the hopes that arenas will be at least partially filled with spectators despite concerns related to the virus outbreak. 

Thornton tallied seven goals and 24 assists for 31 points in 70 games with the San Jose Sharks this past season before the NHL halted play on March 12 due to the pandemic. He didn't participate in the league's summer resumption because San Jose finished last in the Western Conference standings and didn't qualify.