Sharks' DeBoer says Thornton's knee has no structural damage

The San Jose Sharks received some good news on the status of Joe Thornton's aching knee, as the swelling that sent him to injured reserve on Sunday was apparently caused by an infection rather than structural damage, head coach Peter DeBoer told Paul Gackle of The Mercury News.

"Nothing structurally. It looks like an infection, put him on antibiotics," DeBoer said. "He should be fine."

Thornton experienced swelling after Friday's win over the Los Angeles Kings. He was then placed on IR and sent home from the club's four-game East Coast road trip for precautionary reasons.

At the earliest, Jumbo Joe could rejoin the Sharks on Oct. 14, but a firm timetable is still unclear. The update has to be considered a positive for the Sharks, though, as the 39-year-old has undergone two knee surgeries in the past 17 months.

Over the first two contests of the new season, Thornton recorded one assist and sits on the precipice of two personal milestones. With five more games played and three more goals, the No. 1 overall pick from the 1997 draft will reach 1,500 and 400, respectively, for his career.