Bruins’ Chiarelli operating as though Thomas won’t play in 2012-13
Thomas is set to sit/By S. Bradley
Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli today confirmed the TSN/ESPN report that goaltender Tim Thomas is seriously considering sitting out next season. If Thomas doesn’t play, his $5 million cap hit would still count against the Bruins.
“Tim came to me toward the beginning, middle of May, through his agent [Bill Zito], and has said that he is seriously considering taking the year off,” Chiarelli said during a conference call. “And I think the reasons are why, I’m not exactly sure. But he did give some reasons regarding the family, which obviously I respect, [him wanting to] spend more time with his family. So as of right now I’m operating on the premise that there’s a strong possibility that he’ll be taking the year off and we’d have to go about our business without Tim Thomas for the year.”
Without Thomas, the Bruins plan to go with Tuukka Rask and Anton Khudobin as their two NHL goaltenders. Michael Hutchinson and recently signed netminder Adam Morrison and Niklas Svedberg would round out the depth chart at Providence (AHL). Chiarelli confirmed that Svedberg is expected to come to North America this season.
If Thomas sits out, the Bruins can let his deal expire after the 2012-13 season or welcome him back at the same salary and cap hit for the 2013-14 season. The Bruins also have the option of waiving or trading Thomas, who has a no-trade clause that expires July 1.
For more on the Thomas situation, read my NHL.com report.
True Colors.
I’ve made my feelings known on this on the other post, so I’ll digress.
Regrading the cap hit, I’m guessing that it’s in the current/ soon to be defunct CBA, to keep teams from pushing players towards the “taking a year off” route to in effect circumvent that cap hit, yet still pay the player their due monies via another organizational capacity? Either way, in this situation, it’s a tough pill to swallow.
I do not understand either, Pierre. He is signed to work for the Bruins through July 1st, 2013. If he is not going to work he should not be paid. If I do not show up for work I certainly will not get paid.
I really don’t understand the cap situation.
If he chooses not to play, why should the team be punished and forced to carry the cap hit?
Thomas won’t collect his salary, right?
Just doesn’t seem to make sense.
I respect his decision. Terry Sawchuck & Dave Cowens took time off for mental fatigue. But since he does not want to play the B’s have to find a way to get the $5 million he is due off the debit side of their ledger.
Trade him to Toronto for a draft pick! Burke would love the drama/noterity that he was able to get Timmy back playing. The very last thing to do would be to re-sign him.