From Tim Thomas Facebook page

From the earliest age I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a hockey player. I’ve been blessed in my life to not only be able to live that dream, but to achieve more than I ever thought possible.

The single-minded focus that is necessary to accomplish a dream of this magnitude entails (by necessity) sacrifice in other areas and relationships in 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. 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.

This is what I plan on doing over the course of the next year.

On top of this, I will continue to train using the ARP/POV system http://www.ultrafitevosport.com and work with G-Form http://www.g-form.com in the development of protective equipment.

What does this portend for the future?

We’ll see…. God’s will be done.

TT

Now I am not going to criticize Tim Thomas for wanting to spend time with his family, but to also say I want to play in the Olympics do you really think your going to get that chance by taking a year off.

Tim Thomas would have to contend with American goalies Jonathan Quick, Ryan Miller, Jimmy Howard, Cory Schneider, and Craig Anderson, and the last time I check they are not taking a year off.

If Tim Thomas really wants to use his family as part of his reason to walk away fine, but DON’T say you will comeback cause you want to play in the Olympics, you should be saying I want to come back to win the Stanley Cup as a Boston Bruin!

Bruins assistant captain Patrice Bergeron spoke with ESPNBoston.com during a phone interview on Monday and said he understands Thomas’ decision.

“There’s not much we can do,” Bergeron said. “It’s his decision and if he wants to spend more time with his family, obviously we understand that. He was great for us but we feel confident in Tuukka [Rask], for sure.

“I wish him all the best and time to regroup with his family. For us, as Bruins, it’s about making sure we play our best and come back in form in September. I feel very confident in Tuukka and I know everyone else does as well. It should be OK.”

Of all the current Bruins players, Bergeron has played with Thomas the longest and has witnessed first-hand his path to greatness on the ice.

“Everyone knows Timmy’s a fierce competitor and he wants to win and he’ll do anything to win,” Bergeron said. “His path in hockey just shows that and the way he made it to the NHL is pretty amazing. It’s something that will always be talked about because it’s unreal the way he did it. He persevered and never quit, and I think he’s the same way off the ice”

I am not going to spend a lot of time writing about Tim Thomas snub on president Obama, this is what he posted.

“I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People. This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government. Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL. This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic. “

TT.

For this simple reason I respect his decision for not going based on his political beliefs, do I agree with it no, but I do respect him

The problem with Thomas’s decision puts the Boston Bruins in a bind. This makes Thomas almost untradeable. Even via waivers, a club would be taking a giant risk on Thomas’s $5 million cap hit, only to see him not play for the 2012-13 season. Any team making a claim on Thomas would have to receive a guarantee from the Boston Bruins and Tim Thomas that he will play.

If Thomas does not play the Bruins will most likely suspend the goalie for 2012-13 seasons. The Bruins also must carry Thomas’s $5 million annual cap hit. Thomas is owed $3 million for this coming season, the hit on the Bruins’ salary cap is $5 million based on the total value of the contract. The Bruins would have to place Marc Savard on long-term injured reserve to make up some of Thomas’s hit on the cap. Savard carries an annual price just around $4 million

I want to address the trade the might have moved Thomas just before the 2010 draft in Los Angeles, the Bruins asked Thomas to waive his no-trade clause. Thomas agreed to do this, but the Bruins could not settle on a trade, and Thomas stayed in Boston.

In the 2010–11 seasons Tim Thomas put up one of the greatest season he broke the NHL record for save percentage, beating Dominik Hasek’s record of .937, with a .938 percentage. During the Bruins’ playoff run, he set the record for most saves in a single postseason with 798 and the most saves in a Stanley Cup series with 238, and broke Frank McCool’s 66-year old record of fewest goals allowed in a 7-game Stanley Cup Finals, allowing only eight goals total (for an all-time record .967 save percentage in the Stanley Cup Finals). Thomas also became the first goaltender ever to post a shutout in a Game 7 on the road.*

I want to end this article with this, there’s no question in my mind that Tim Thomas has paid his dues. Tim Thomas has played for teams in Finland, Sweden, ECHL, the International League and the American League before he signed with the Boston Bruins at the age of 31. He has won two Vezina Trophies, one Stanley Cup, one Conn Smythe Trophy, a Jennings Trophy and two first team all-star nods, and a silver medal 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

It’s a shame that with all of his accomplishments and everything achieved as a Boston Bruin that he will be remember for more on his politics, and beliefs rather then a stellar career that a gave to hockey fans and the Boston Bruins.

John Yeti