Joe Thornton spotted training with an NHL team.

It may be nothing, but many fans are taking this as a sign that we may still get one more season out of long time National Hockey League veteran Joe Thornton.

Thornton, who is 43 years old, is currently an unrestricted free agent after spending last season with the Florida Panthers, and there has been some talk that it may have been the final season of his career. On Saturday however Thornton was back out on the ice with an NHL team, seemingly getting ready for the start of yet another NHL season.

The sighting of Thornton comes to us directly from the San Jose Sharks, who proudly promoted the fact that the former Sharks forward was out on the ice with other members of the Sharks organization. The video from the Sharks was just that, a video, with a caption that read "Hey Jumbo" giving no indication of whether or not Thornton can actually be expected to join their roster this season.

Here's the video:

Thornton was limited last year with only 34 appearances during the regular season but did still manage to produce offensively with 5 goals and 5 assists for 10 points. Even if Thornton was to be limited this upcoming season I think many fans in San Jose would love the idea of having Jumbo Joe playing out the final season of his career in a Sharks uniform. 

After all, in spite of the fact that he was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins, the overwhelming majority of Thornton's staggering 1714 career regular season NHL games have come as a member of the San Jose Sharks to whom he was traded during the 2005 - 2006 NHL season.

Thornton currently has no official role with the Sharks so he could be joining them on a professional tryout offer or there could even be a contract announcement coming down the line. It could also just be that Thornton will be taking on an entirely new role with the team, and is merely enjoying something he has done for so many years of his life.

Given that the Sharks have promoted this news on social media though, I suspect there may be some sort of an announcement forthcoming.