Thomas' no-trade clause expires after June 30, which means the Bruins could deal him if they choose.
View full sizeTim Thomas shouldn't be dealt after his no-trade clause expires.Boston Bruins offseason questions
- Bruins are better off not trading goalie Tim Thomas
- Should the Bruins re-sign Chris Kelly?
- Will any players be offered contract extensions?
- Is this the end of Joe Corvo?
- Can prospect Dougie Hamilton contend for a roster spot?
- How will the Bruins fix their dismal power play?
- Can Nathan Horton and Adam McQuaid stay concussion symptom-free?
- Can Tyler Seguin live up to high expectations next season?
- Will the Bruins go after a sniper?
- More to come...
With an early first-round exit from the playoffs, the long offseason has begun for the Boston Bruins. Throughout the break we'll address a new topic as the team focusses on the 2012-13 season. Agree? Disagree? Let your voice be heard!A year ago Boston Bruins netminder Tim Thomas was on top of the world.
He set the tone by breaking Dominik Hasek’s single-season save percentage record with a .9381 mark and that was only a preview of what came next.
Thomas hoisted the Stanley Cup, received the Conn Smythe Trophy as the series most valuable player, and captured his second Vezina in three seasons at the NHL Awards to become the first goalie since Bernie Parent in 1974-75 to win all three.
Now heading into the 2011-12 offseason, there are questions whether Thomas will finish out his contract in Boston. After June 30 Thomas' no-trade clause will expire, which means if the team chose, they could move him.
Sound a bit ridiculous? Of course it does.
Thomas admitted that he let a few soft goals get by him in the team's first-round playoff series with the Washington Capitals, but that shouldn't make him trade bait.
It's unfair to compare Thomas' stats from his MVP season. Thomas, who just turned 38 on April 15, finished at 35-9-1 with a 2.36 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in 59 games. Those are solid numbers for a guy who many thought had nothing left in the tank.
Skeptics think it's time to let 25-year-old goalie Tuukka Rask be the permanent No. 1 and have Anton Khudobin serve as the backup. But the truth of the matter is, what has Rask proved to show he can handle it?
Rask, who is a restricted free agent, suffered a major core injury (lower abdomen/groin strain), which sidelined him for a month a half and left Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli scrambling to find someone to lessen the workload off Thomas during the most crucial stretch of the regular season.
Injuries happen, that's how Rask got his chance to shine when Thomas went down with an ailing left hip in March of 2010, which required surgery. Now it's about consistency and Rask has failed to do that. If anything, next season will be the true test since it's doubtful Thomas will want to re-sign.
Another reason to ponder the thought of dealing Thomas is it'll create more cap space as he is expected to earn $3 million next season with a cap hit of $5 million. With that kind of money Chiarelli could go after a sniper, something that was non-exitent in the playoffs with Nathan Horton concussed and the other top six forwards not rising to the occasion.
It sounds like a no-brainer putting it into that perspective, but how much would a team give up for a 38-year-old goalie? Not a whole lot, which is why Boston is better off keeping him until his contract runs up next July.
White House drama and media outcry aside, there is no reason to trade Tim Thomas. His teammates have his back. Just ask Shawn Thornton who called the criticism of Thomas' character "bull(expletive)."
Amanda Bruno can be reached at abruno@repub.com