Truth & Rumors > NHL

Thomas remaining in exile

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08:11 AM ET 01.07 | The NHL is back, but Tim Thomas' return remains unlikely. The Boston Bruins goaltender has not changed his plans to stay away from the rink, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie. "As of now, subject to usual 'could change mind later' qualifiers, Tim Thomas is not interested in ending his self-imposed hockey exile," McKenzie said via Twitter on Sunday. McKenzie also said Thomas has no intention of fulfilling the final year of his four-year, $20 million contract with the Bruins or any other team. That's too bad for Boston, who will be on the hook for his $5 million cap hit this season. Thomas, 38, is subject to the 35-and-over rule for contracts. Thomas announced in June that he was taking the year off hockey to spend more time with his family.

Toronto Sun

Tim Thomas, Getty Images Tim Thomas, Getty Images
January 7, 2013  08:28 AM ET

It's Tuukka time!

January 7, 2013  08:31 AM ET

Man, his gun collection must've grown tenfold this past month. I would NOT mess around with Yankee Tim...

January 7, 2013  08:57 AM ET

still think it was a selfish move......

January 7, 2013  09:05 AM ET
QUOTE(#3):

still think it was a selfish move......

He's definiteley sticking it to the Bruins.

January 7, 2013  09:12 AM ET
QUOTE(#4):

He's definiteley sticking it to the Bruins.

agree

January 7, 2013  09:15 AM ET
QUOTE(#4):

He's definiteley sticking it to the Bruins.

A lot of teams will be doing that if Tuukka doesn't hold up well.

January 7, 2013  09:16 AM ET
QUOTE(#4):

He's definiteley sticking it to the Bruins.

Boston can wipe that contract off the books (cap wise) with the new amnesty clause, can't they?

January 7, 2013  09:19 AM ET
QUOTE(#4):

He's definiteley sticking it to the Bruins.

I never understood why folks think he has a motive to stick it to the Bruins. Could it be that he's just plain had enough of the rigors (travel, etc) of being a professional hockey player.?

January 7, 2013  09:21 AM ET
QUOTE(#4):

He's definiteley sticking it to the Bruins.

Especially since (I believe that is what I read) the contract is going to hit the cap

January 7, 2013  09:21 AM ET
QUOTE(#8):

I never understood why folks think he has a motive to stick it to the Bruins. Could it be that he's just plain had enough of the rigors (travel, etc) of being a professional hockey player.?

Nah.....

January 7, 2013  09:24 AM ET
QUOTE(#7):

Boston can wipe that contract off the books (cap wise) with the new amnesty clause, can't they?

You can't use the amnesty til summer, and he's UFA then correct?

It's pretty clear who Boston's amnesty will be.

January 7, 2013  09:25 AM ET
QUOTE(#10):

Nah.....

No wayyy

January 7, 2013  09:31 AM ET
QUOTE(#8):

I never understood why folks think he has a motive to stick it to the Bruins. Could it be that he's just plain had enough of the rigors (travel, etc) of being a professional hockey player.?

You've stuck up for Timmah since day one, and I do understand where you're coming from with it, I really do.

The guy is just plain and simple a dick. He's a dick of the highest regard. Nobody on a team likes being unnecessarily put in the spotlight, especially when that spotlight is based on issues that nobody on the team is even privy to comment on. It's not like the NFL where the entire team was American - Thomas was the only American on the team, I believe. If one of the Canadians or Chara or anybody commented on what Thomas was doing, they'd be considered stepping out of bounds. It could only have been uncomfortable as hell in there, and frankly the performances afterward showed it. The quitting on the team - that's what he's done, he's quit on the team - was only the final dickish move in a series of dickishness that showed just how much of a dick the man had decided he could become after gaining the fame and power he did. It doesn't bother me. It probably doesn't bother a lot of people in the Bruins organization seeing as they have Rask anyway. If he had enough of the hockey life, as you said, he should've retired and let the Bruins have the cap space back. He just decided he would take the most dickish route out of town, and that isn't a surprise to anybody.

January 7, 2013  09:57 AM ET
QUOTE(#13):

You've stuck up for Timmah since day one, and I do understand where you're coming from with it, I really do. The guy is just plain and simple a dick. He's a dick of the highest regard. Nobody on a team likes being unnecessarily put in the spotlight, especially when that spotlight is based on issues that nobody on the team is even privy to comment on. It's not like the NFL where the entire team was American - Thomas was the only American on the team, I believe. If one of the Canadians or Chara or anybody commented on what Thomas was doing, they'd be considered stepping out of bounds. It could only have been uncomfortable as hell in there, and frankly the performances afterward showed it. The quitting on the team - that's what he's done, he's quit on the team - was only the final dickish move in a series of dickishness that showed just how much of a dick the man had decided he could become after gaining the fame and power he did. It doesn't bother me. It probably doesn't bother a lot of people in the Bruins organization seeing as they have Rask anyway. If he had enough of the hockey life, as you said, he should've retired and let the Bruins have the cap space back. He just decided he would take the most dickish route out of town, and that isn't a surprise to anybody.

I'm taking a bit of a leap here Danny but in reading between the lines I'm thinking you're saying TT is a dick.

January 7, 2013  10:04 AM ET
QUOTE(#14):

I'm taking a bit of a leap here Danny but in reading between the lines I'm thinking you're saying TT is a dick.

Funny...............I ddn't get that at all. :)))

January 7, 2013  10:11 AM ET
QUOTE(#10):

Nah.....

If he outright retired would the cap hit disappear ?

January 7, 2013  10:15 AM ET
QUOTE(#16):

If he outright retired would the cap hit disappear ?

Yes. Thus the dickishness.

January 7, 2013  10:15 AM ET
QUOTE(#15):

Funny...............I ddn't get that at all. :)))

I've failed you all then.

January 7, 2013  10:16 AM ET
QUOTE(#16):

If he outright retired would the cap hit disappear ?

When a player aged 35 or older signs a multi-year contract, his average salary is counted against the team's salary cap during every year of the contract, even if the player retires before the contract is up.

 
January 7, 2013  10:32 AM ET
QUOTE(#18):

I've failed you all then.

LOL. You were just so understated and nuanced in your first comment it went past me! Just kidding Danny! Even I'm not that stupid...........close, but not quite!

:-)

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