Buuxi weedhan soo socota: Thornton wuxuu isku dayay in lagu qoro 1996 NHL draft laakiin kooxna lama dooran. Kadibna waxaa loo soo xulay NHL-ka kooxda Toronto Maple Leafs
1997, 190aad guud ahaan, Thornton waligiis kuma uusan ciyaarin Toronto waxaana loo beddelay Chicago Blackhawks inta lagu gudajiray xilli ciyaareedkii 2001-2002. Ka dib lix xilli ciyaareed oo u dhexeeya NHL iyo AHL oo u dhexeeya Chicago iyo Anaheim Ducks, Thornton wuxuu ku guuleystay xirfaddiisa ugu horeysay Stanley Cup xilli ciyaareedkiisii ugu dambeeyay ee Ducks 2006 <unk> 07.