Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas is expected to stick to his word and sit out the shortened 2012-13 season.
In the summer, Thomas wrote on his Facebook page that he was making the decision to sit out the final year of his contract to focus on other aspects of his life.
“At the age of 38, I believe it is time to put my time and energies into those areas and relationships that I have neglected,” Thomas stated. “That is why at this time I feel the most important thing I can do in my life is to reconnect with the three F’s. Friends, Family, and Faith.”
Very doubtful. Not in BOS. RT @brian_carr: @globekpd Any odds that Tim Thomas plays somewhere this (shortened) season?
— Kevin Paul Dupont (@GlobeKPD) January 6, 2013
The Flint, Mich., native will forfeit $3 million in salary but his cap hit of $5 million will count against Bruins cap.
Thomas led the Bruins to a Stanley Cup championship in the 2010-11 season, where he was awarded Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Thomas is a two-time (2009 and 2011) Vezina Trophy winner as the league’s top netminder and won a silver medal at the Vancouver 2010 Games with the United States.
Tuukka Rask is expected to be the Bruins starting goalie this season.