Tim Thomas may skip 2012-13 season

[Chrispy]

BOSTON -- Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli confirmed Friday that goalie Tim Thomas is considering taking next year off for family reasons.

The news was earlier reported by ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun.

"Tim came to me via his agent toward the beginning of May and said he was thinking of taking the year off," Chiarelli said in a conference call Friday. "The reasons are ... I'm not exactly sure but he did give reasons why regarding the family, which obviously I respect."

The GM says Thomas, 38, has given no indication of when he will make a final decision, and as a result, Chiarelli must proceed as if the two-time Vezina Trophy winner won't be with the team in 2012-13.

"I almost have to operate under the discussion he isn't coming back," Chiarelli said. "I've had some discussions with Tim and he's told me that he wants to play in the Olympics the following year, so I'll have more discussions with him later on. But we've got two very capable goalies in (Tuukka) Rask and (Anton) Khudobin, so I'd be more than satisfied if that's who we have to go with."

Thomas is heading into the final season of a contract that will pay him $3 million but will carry a $5 million cap hit for the Bruins.

Information from ESPNBoston.com's James Murphy and The Associated Press was used in this report.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nhl/story/_/id/7997862/boston-bruins-goalie-tim-thomas-sit-2012-13-season

 

[leaffan]

lol this guy might be the worst team mate ever.

 

[NAHSTE]

Fuck Tim Thomas.

 

[Ravin]

He might as well just retire. 38 now, and if Rask plays good, no chance they resign a 39 year old goalie for one year left in him. If he takes the year off, he might as well just pack in Boston because he won't play their again.

As for the Olympics, I'm fairly sure Jonathan Quick will have something to say about Thomas playing. Plus you have Ryan Miller and I'll throw in Cory Schneider into the talks just for the hell of it. Thomas IMO is fighting for a 3rd goalie spot. He will never see the Olympic ice.

 

[Fappin Raptor]

I'd probably take Jimmy Howard as the third goalie. :shifty:

 

[Ravin]

I'd probably take Jimmy Howard as the third goalie. :shifty:

As a Canadian, I would be very happy if the USA put him in as the starter.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

I think that the Bruins would be more than happy to take that $5 million in cap space and use it somewhere else. But seriously, I get family reasons, but taking the whole year off? Come on, that is no way to be a team mate.

 

[Berowsk]

Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli confirmed Friday that goalie Tim Thomas is considering taking next year off for family reasons.

uhhhhhhhhhhhh...

 

[Ravin]

I think that the Bruins would be more than happy to take that $5 million in cap space and use it somewhere else. But seriously, I get family reasons, but taking the whole year off? Come on, that is no way to be a team mate.

Thing is, they can't take the money. With him being over 35 when he signed the contract, they are stuck with it on their books. It is one of the good things about the CBA, in that they don't allow teams to sign these guys to massive deals to get around the cap and hope they retire. You know, like a 5 year deal where they are paid $10M, 10M, 1M, 1M, 1M, cap hit of $4.6M and the player retires after two years.

 

[SuperKevin]

I think I'm hilarious and am going to make a joke about hockey while referencing the NBA. Not only am I clever and quick witted, I'm sure no one has ever made a joke like this before and I'm for sure going to get a ton of thanks for this.



-- Brought to you by leaffan ninja edits. :smug:

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Thing is, they can't take the money. With him being over 35 when he signed the contract, they are stuck with it on their books. It is one of the good things about the CBA, in that they don't allow teams to sign these guys to massive deals to get around the cap and hope they retire. You know, like a 5 year deal where they are paid $10M, 10M, 1M, 1M, 1M, cap hit of $4.6M and the player retires after two years.

Well they obviously would be stuck with the "guaranteed" portion (which is all of the contract here) but does it still count as a cap hit? This would be the first I've heard otherwise, as I'm not up on my CBA for the NHL.

 

[SuperKevin]

I think I'm hilarious and am going to make a joke about hockey while referencing the NBA. Not only am I clever and quick witted, I'm sure no one has ever made a joke like this before and I'm for sure going to get a ton of thanks for this.



-- Brought to you by leaffan ninja edits. :smug:

It's better this way

 

[leaffan]

It's better this way

It is cuz the next time you do it I'm just going to ban you for a week. They are trying to make this site more open to people and trolling in the sports forums is one thing that should be done with. If someone like me sticks to it I'm sure a retard like you can.

 

[leaffan]

Well they obviously would be stuck with the "guaranteed" portion (which is all of the contract here) but does it still count as a cap hit? This would be the first I've heard otherwise, as I'm not up on my CBA for the NHL.

I'm pretty sure the cap hit stays. They can't put him on LTIR and he's not retired. If he's going to do this they should just send his rights down to Providence since I'm sure he'll still get paid the same but his cap hit will come off then.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

I'm pretty sure the cap hit stays. They can't put him on LTIR and he's not retired. If he's going to do this they should just send his rights down to Providence since I'm sure he'll still get paid the same but his cap hit will come off then.

That is what I am thinking about, thanks for reminding me.

 

[NAHSTE]

uhhhhhhhhhhhh...

It's his uncle.

 

[leaffan]

Tim Thomas is a serious creeper right now:

From the earliest age I can remember, I've wanted to be a hockey player. I've been blessed in my life to not only be able to live that dream, but to achieve more than I ever thought possible.

The singleminded focus that is necessary to accomplish a dream of this magnitude entails (by necessity) sacrifice in other areas and relationships in life.

At the age of 38, I believe it is time to put my time and energies into those areas and relationships that I have neglected. That is why at this time I feel the most important thing I can do in my life is to reconnect with the three F's.

Friends, Family, and Faith.

This is what I plan on doing over the course of the next year.

On top of this, I will continue to train using the ARP/POV system www.ultrafitevosport.com and work with G-Form www.g-form.com in the development of protective equipment.

What does this portend for the future?

We'll see….God's will be done.

TT

 

[Ravin]

Hockey's Ricky Williams everyone. Just needs to smoke a little more weed.

 

[pierrolicious]

lollllllllll

 

[Tailback U]

I think that the Bruins would be more than happy to take that $5 million in cap space and use it somewhere else. But seriously, I get family reasons, but taking the whole year off? Come on, that is no way to be a team mate.

Good for Thomas. You and I have no idea what his life outside of hockey is like. I respect his decision and even admire it because he realizes sports aren't the most important thing in life and is able to walk away from something he loves in order to improve other aspects of his life.

Sounds like he has his priorities straight to me.