"They got him in yesterday," DeBoer said. "The update I got last night was nothing structurally. It looks like an infection. Put him on antibiotics and he should be fine.
"I think it's great news."
Thornton was placed on injured reserve Sunday. The 39-year-old center returned to San Jose on Saturday after experiencing swelling in his knee following a 3-2 overtime win at the Los Angeles Kings on Friday, The Mercury News reported. There is no timetable for his return.
Center Dylan Gambrell was recalled from San Jose of the American Hockey League on Sunday.
Thornton has had surgery to repair torn ligaments in each knee within the past year and a half.
Thornton tore the MCL and ACL in his left knee on April 2, 2017. He returned two weeks later and played the final four games of a six-game loss to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference First Round before having surgery April 24, 2017.
Last season, after he had 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in 47 games, he tore the MCL and ACL in his right knee on Jan. 23 and had surgery two days later.
Thornton has one assist in two games this season. He ranks 12th in NHL history with 1,031 assists and 16th with 1,428 points.
