What is in Timmy's head....????
Posted 1:23 AM ET | Comments 10
Tim Thomas had one of the best goaltending seasons of all time in
2010-2011, and in the Stanley Cup Finals he posted a .967 save
percentage (a cup record). Thomas was the biggest part to the Boston
Bruins winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in 39 years. He was
great with the fans, and the media, always answering questions in his
own quirky way (of course until the White House fiasco this season)
and seemed to love his job.
Thomas took a long road to the NHL and seemed to take advantage of the
chance he was given by the Bruins when he joined the club (2002), and
got a real shot on the team after a lockout and injury by starter Andrew
Raycroft in 2005. Thomas would still have to fight for the number one
position a few more times against Hannu Toivonen and later Tuukka
Rask, but through his determination he became the starter. Thomas made
his first All-Star appearance in 2008, and again in 2009. Towards the
end of the 2009 season, Thomas signed an extension with the Bruins for
four years through the 2012-2013 season. This brings us to the current
debate, Thomas in the final year of that contract at age 38, has
decided to take the year off (a year his no trade clause expires as of
July 1st)
It would be great to take him at his word, that he is taking a year
off for his family, friends and faith (which
is what he stated on his Facebook page). I mean how can you not
respect that kind of a decision, if he is in fact being honest, Family
should always come first. Unfortunately his actions leading up to this
decision, is what has people all over the NHL questioning his true
intentions. In the 2010 playoffs when Tuukka Rask took back the
starting job, there were rumors flying that Thomas might be traded the
next off season. Thomas was upset about this rumor and at the start of
the 2010-2011 season he took all Bruins logo’s off his equipment in
protest. During this past 2012 season, Thomas decided not to attend
the White House victors’ meet and greet for his own political reasons,
which upset his teammates and the Boston organization. After that
incident, Thomas had a shaky relationship with the local and national
media and was teased by Washington Capital fans in the first round of the playoffs.
Thomas moved his family from the New England area to Colorado during
the middle of the season, which brought up speculations that he had no
intention of playing for Boston next season.
Rumors started again this current off season that Thomas may be traded
and instead of that possibility, it seems Thomas has trumped the
Bruins and decided not to honor the final year of his 3 million dollar
contract, leaving the team without their number one goaltender and a
five million dollar cap hit. It will be hard for Boston to trade him
for value now, and he would likely only go to a team that would need
to get to the cap floor and be okay with Thomas not playing.
Was Boston really going to trade Thomas or were they looking forward
to getting the best out of their number one goalie (two time Vezina
winner, All Star, Conn Smythe winner and Stanley Cup Champion), who
would be looking to play well for a new contract somewhere else? Some say Thomas
should have retired out of respect for the organization and his
teammates if he truly wanted to leave the game of hockey, but either
way, Boston still has to count the 5 million dollars towards their cap
and now try and sign back up Tuukka Rask (who is a restricted free
agent).
It is very rare that a player does this and so it leaves us with so
many questions and very little answers. If Tim Thomas was tired,
wanted to be with his family and just needed to get away from hockey,
then that is his personal right, but if it is not his real motive,
then what a shameful thing to do to your teammates and your fans.
2010-2011, and in the Stanley Cup Finals he posted a .967 save
percentage (a cup record). Thomas was the biggest part to the Boston
Bruins winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in 39 years. He was
great with the fans, and the media, always answering questions in his
own quirky way (of course until the White House fiasco this season)
and seemed to love his job.
Thomas took a long road to the NHL and seemed to take advantage of the
chance he was given by the Bruins when he joined the club (2002), and
got a real shot on the team after a lockout and injury by starter Andrew
Raycroft in 2005. Thomas would still have to fight for the number one
position a few more times against Hannu Toivonen and later Tuukka
Rask, but through his determination he became the starter. Thomas made
his first All-Star appearance in 2008, and again in 2009. Towards the
end of the 2009 season, Thomas signed an extension with the Bruins for
four years through the 2012-2013 season. This brings us to the current
debate, Thomas in the final year of that contract at age 38, has
decided to take the year off (a year his no trade clause expires as of
July 1st)
It would be great to take him at his word, that he is taking a year
off for his family, friends and faith (which
is what he stated on his Facebook page). I mean how can you not
respect that kind of a decision, if he is in fact being honest, Family
should always come first. Unfortunately his actions leading up to this
decision, is what has people all over the NHL questioning his true
intentions. In the 2010 playoffs when Tuukka Rask took back the
starting job, there were rumors flying that Thomas might be traded the
next off season. Thomas was upset about this rumor and at the start of
the 2010-2011 season he took all Bruins logo’s off his equipment in
protest. During this past 2012 season, Thomas decided not to attend
the White House victors’ meet and greet for his own political reasons,
which upset his teammates and the Boston organization. After that
incident, Thomas had a shaky relationship with the local and national
media and was teased by Washington Capital fans in the first round of the playoffs.
Thomas moved his family from the New England area to Colorado during
the middle of the season, which brought up speculations that he had no
intention of playing for Boston next season.
Rumors started again this current off season that Thomas may be traded
and instead of that possibility, it seems Thomas has trumped the
Bruins and decided not to honor the final year of his 3 million dollar
contract, leaving the team without their number one goaltender and a
five million dollar cap hit. It will be hard for Boston to trade him
for value now, and he would likely only go to a team that would need
to get to the cap floor and be okay with Thomas not playing.
Was Boston really going to trade Thomas or were they looking forward
to getting the best out of their number one goalie (two time Vezina
winner, All Star, Conn Smythe winner and Stanley Cup Champion), who
would be looking to play well for a new contract somewhere else? Some say Thomas
should have retired out of respect for the organization and his
teammates if he truly wanted to leave the game of hockey, but either
way, Boston still has to count the 5 million dollars towards their cap
and now try and sign back up Tuukka Rask (who is a restricted free
agent).
It is very rare that a player does this and so it leaves us with so
many questions and very little answers. If Tim Thomas was tired,
wanted to be with his family and just needed to get away from hockey,
then that is his personal right, but if it is not his real motive,
then what a shameful thing to do to your teammates and your fans.
Jesus is in his head.
Is this not a breach of his contract? Couldn't the Bruins appeal to the NHL and can this guy?
His reasons are garbage. He's a self-centered egomaniac and anyone who ever gives him a job in hockey again is loopier than he is. Tough one for Boston, but good ridence to a bonafied shat disturber.
It's obvious He is a Doomsday prepper and building a bunker for the 2012 apocalypse. Or God has him building an Ark.
The only thing in Timmy's head is Timmy.
Not that I necessarily disagree with it all, but it is just amazing to see the sharp turnaround in public opinion on Thomas, especially from Boston fans. I can see why you'd be pissed from a cap standpoint, but if off ice actions were the main basis for public opinion of pro athletes then we would hate most of them. (ie Brodeur)
Could it potentially be that because of the fact that he made his stance at the whitehouse, his family has been suffering some backlash in their everyday lives? That would account for the move and him wanting to take a yeaar off to spend with them.
It amazes me that he'd leave Boston or screw them over this year... his me-first cocky attitude fits in so well in such an arrogant organization.
Nope it's a bunker and we're all doomed.
Who would have thought: a largely Democratic city turning it's opinion around on a conservative Republican goaltender that just bailed on their hometown team. What could possibly go wrong there?