Report: Bruins’ Thomas considers sitting out a season
Thomas considering a year off/By S. Bradley
Here’s one from Pierre Lebrun of ESPN and TSN that will make you scratch your head.
On the “Insider Trading” segment on TSN, the veteran writer/broadcaster reported the following with regards to what he’s been told about Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas:
“Among the other options I’m told that Tim Thomas is considering is maybe not playing next season,” LeBrun said. “Again, I’m not saying that it’s gonna happen for sure, but I was told today that he’s thinking about maybe taking the year off.”
Thomas is due to make $3 million this season and hit the Bruins or any NHL team’s salary cap at $5 million in the last year of the four-year deal he signed. Reportedly his no-trade clause expires July 1. Lebrun didn’t expand upon Thomas’ reasoning except to point out the stressfulness of the 2011-12 season for Thomas. Here’s a link to the TSN video.
If Thomas were to sit out, the Bruins would retain his rights until he completed the final year of his contract. Considering he turned 38 in April, it’d be hard to believe Thomas could take an entire season off and then come back at the level he’s played the last couple years.
But the Bruins are seemingly covered should Thomas decide to spectate, as they have Tuukka Rask (a restricted free agent) under their control, plus Anton Khudobin and recently signed Niklas Svedberg at their disposal.
He’s a legend, alright. Problem is if he keeps up this crap he’ll end up infamous instead of famous.
Nothing worse than a pouty millionaire!
Timmy. Is. Legend.
All the best, whatever he decides to do.
If Thomas is thinking of a comeback next season, just so he can play in the Olympics, he needs to think again. Here are three good reasons why he should re-evaluate; Quick, Miller, and Schneider. Enough said! The only he gets to the games is on his own nickel.
Love Timmy. We wouldn’t have a cup without him… or the 22 other guys. Solution: suspend him and trade him for a used puck bag on July 1 when his NMC expires to a team that needs to meet the salary floor. Boom! Done!
Hey PC! I’m available as a consultant!
Chiarelli confirmed Thomas’ agent told him in May that Thomas is strongly considering not playing. Chiarelli also said they are operating as if he’s not going to play. What a difference a year makes.
I’m fine with him retiring. He has become too big of a distraction in the past year. Winning the Conn Smythe has gone to his head, unfortunately. The worst thing is the fact that his 5,000,000 counts towards the salary cap. Ugh!
Anton and Tukka, its your time in the sun!
“Great Goalie… weird dude” HAHA!
That about sums it up.
Another possible explanation is that TT is being pushed out while both the Bruins and TT save face.
I understand management is furious over the white house stunt and they want him OUT. Maybe this is a way around the remaining year of his contract.
actually time off might rejuvinate him. wouldn’t be the first time for an older goalie……
And by the way… No goalies makes $5M a year without the conspiring ‘Media’, right? There’s no grand payday for anyone without the Media.
PCL – I think you miss the point. It’s TT that is making a political statement. For the team, and for fans is about TEAM. TT can put all of this to bed, but he has chosen not to.
I don’t like politics in my sports either. I don’t like contract disputes. I don’t like work stoppages. I don’t like players whining when they get paid obscene sums of money to play games. I don’t like players making personal statements on a grand stage putting themselves above their team. Seriously.. who does he think he is that no-showing the president will mean something. Maybe he’s Ghandi, but I think he’s more just a dumb jock who should keep his private crap private if he wants it to be private.
Come on Bo! Snub-gate wouldn’t have been anything if the media didn’t drive it down our throats for the better part of two-weeks. Most fans that I spoke to, after the fact, said that it didn’t mean balls to them yet the story didn’t go away. Then there was the post on the facespace that got the attention as well. This guy went from hero to all, except to maybe Vancouver fans, to a crazy right-wing selfish nut-job in the matter of a weeks span due to, IMO, the media telling everybody what they should think of this guy and how his political leanings are tearing apart the team dynamic, etc.
You say, “running away from the microphones” like he should have stood there and defended or rationalized/explained his feelings. I don’t know about you, but that’s not what I want to hear from a sports figure being interviewed in a dressing room. Those are personal feelings/leanings, and he expressed them in a personal forum. The media brought it into the room, not him.
I’ll admit, I’m biased. TT is one of my favorite players and it kills me to see him ripped when he did so much for this team. But, what doubles my frustrations is that he’s ripped not for his play, but for his personal feelings. What triples my frustrations, is that the dysfunctional, hypocritical, and self-serving world that is politics was brought into my favorite sport.
LeBrun is a reliable reporter who covers hockey all the time and is a constant contributor to TSN (which broadcasts the most hockey content in the world I would guess).
That being said, it’s a ‘sources say’ type of report so it doesn’t mean anything is set in stone.
Well, PCL – this thing works both ways. So, what’s with the conspiracy theory that the Media has grouped together to take down TT? Give me a break. Sports media is overwhelmingly conservative.
As far as TT talking about anything – I guess we’ll just have to go visit the facebook page he hides behind, unless you can remind me the last time he actually stated his feelings and intentions before running away from the microphones.
Great Goalie… wierd dude.
Fair enough, but the disclaimers have not appeared on all posts my friend:
Pierre Bezukov: “Yeah I’ve had it with Thomas.
Even if this story is wrong or he has a legit reason for considering it, I’m just sick of this guy.
July 1 is coming quick.
See if PC has the nerve to deal him and get something of value.”
Bojangles: “Indignant Punk.
Great Goalie.. but seriously, who the F does he think he is?”
Regardless, I’m very interested to see what PC has to say later today.
I think you’ll find in our comments:
“if true” “(if true)” “…if the story is wrong..” etc.
Of course it’s not a sure thing. Doesn’t hurt speculating in the mean time while acknowledging that.
Globe reports KPD says PC will comment on Friday.
Hopefully we’ll know more.
You guys are acting like he came out onto the steps of Gvt’ Ctr and said that he’s thinking of not playing next season. It’s a report from a guy who works for ESPN, FFS!!! The same network that gives zero coverage to the sport. I realize that this story gets it’s inertia from the TSN post, but its genesis was over at ESPN.
Until the man himself actually comes out and says it, take it for what it is, a ploy by the media to further disparage this man and to get visits to their website…
Well, that’s just it Pierre. In my estimation (if true), this is TT pouting that he’s now losing control as of July 1 and is trying to gain it back by playing little boy games by holding his breath. It’s 5M bucks to play a game – be a man. You have so much honor as to not show up with the team b/c of your deep rooted rightous values – how about honoring the contract?
Also, if true, you have to consider how this will affect his trade value.
What could PC hope to get for him with one year left on deal at 38? Maybe. 2nd round pick?
Now, if he tries dealing a guy who wants a year off doesn’t TT loose all value as trade bait?
Yup, don’t like this guy anymore.
Typical fickle Boston fan…what have you done for me lately?!
Yeah, he’s an a$$ for not wanting to have to deal with, and not wanting his family to have to deal with, the visceral raw sewage thrown at him from the media for expressing his opinions.
I don’t agree with his opinions or disagree with them. IMO, next to religion, politics is the second biggest fraudulent institution on the face of the earth. But, a lot of people seem to think that his political leanings have something to do with stopping a puck.
Regardless, let’s not take something that Lebrun says as fact on an on-line article designed to generate views to a website.
The really interesting thing here is, if history is any sort of indicator, Timmy is poised to have a fantastic season next year…
Yeah I’ve had it with Thomas.
Even if this story is wrong or he has a legit reason for considering it, I’m just sick of this guy.
July 1 is coming quick.
See if PC has the nerve to deal him and get something of value.
Indignant Punk.
Great Goalie.. but seriously, who the F does he think he is?
Maybe there is a valid rationale for this “possible” scenario. Something serious of a personal nature could be compelling him to sit out (e.g., very ill parent or child). Who knows at this point. I wish people would be respectful of Timmy’s decisions and contemplations…Until we know the whole story.
Maybe there is a valid rationale for this “possible” scenario. Something serious of a personal nature could be compelling him to sit out (e.g., very ill parent or child). Who knows at this point. I wish people would be respectful of Timmy’s decisions and contemplations…Until we know the whole story.
Please, someone tell me he wouldn’t be that stupid?