NHL ENTRY DRAFT

June 21, 1997

Joe Thornton

I have no idea yet. I haven't gone to training camp yet. So that will be the big test, I think.

It makes me feel good. I am on cloud 9. I am ready for training camp.

Not really. There is a lot of good players still there. So, no pressure at all. I haven't even stepped up in the Fleet Center yet. So, I have no pressure at all.

Just get stronger. I'd like to put on some more pounds, probably just get quicker.

This is No. 1 for me

No, not ought at all. I couldn't sleep. I am just glad I am a Bruins. I have dreamt -- well, I have never dreamt to be No. 1, but I have always dreamt to be in the NHL. This is step one

Mike and Eddie are kind of doing it right now, so I have no idea on that

Very strange, yeah. I have never done something like this before. So it is a very strange --

Yeah, just my parents drove me all around minor hockey. They have done a super job. They deserve this more than I do, I think. Yeah, I give them all the credit in the world and my brothers too

I think No. 6, maybe, that will probably be the number

I don't know. Just something different, I guess, somebody already has 19. So, I will probably wear No. 6

The city was great. It was a very nice city. The Fleet Center looked very nice. I was real happy to go there. The fans were great. They already knew who I was so I signed a couple of autographs. That was kind of weird. The city was great and I was happy that some of the fans knew me.

Yeah, they recognized me

We and get Wayne Gretzky has always been my hero. Ray Bourque, Eric Lindros, Mario Lemieux, yeah a lot of Stars.

Great guy. I think he moved on, but, yeah, I can't say enough about the guy. He has coached me for two years now and he has helped me so much with skating and shooting. He is just a great coach

As far as I know they are going well. That is all I know. They are going relatively well. Hopefully that will be done soon. (Talking about contract)

Yeah, I don't really know. It has been my dream to play in the NHL. Hopefully I will be able to do that. If not, I will just work on and work on my skills there. I want to play in the NHL. That is my preference, yeah

No idea yet. Maybe a car. That is probably the first thing. I think I got them convinced.