Kammala jumla mai zuwa: Thornton ya yi ƙoƙari a rubuta shi a cikin NHL na 1996 amma ba a zaba shi ba. Daga nan ne aka zaba shi a cikin NHL ta Toronto Maple Leafs a
1997, 190th gabaɗaya, Thornton bai taɓa bugawa Toronto wasa ba kuma an yi musayar sa zuwa Chicago Blackhawks a lokacin kakar 2001-02. Bayan shekaru shida da suka wuce tsakanin NHL da AHL tsakanin Chicago da Anaheim Ducks, Thornton ya lashe gasar Stanley Cup a kakar wasa ta karshe tare da Ducks a 2006<unk>07.