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semin-rules
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1915 Posts |
 Posted - 06/01/2012 : 13:38:22
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Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli has told reporters that Thomas is seriously considering taking a year off from hockey next season.
Obviously he is overwhelmed with everything that happened this past year and wants to take a step back.
What do you guys think this means for the Bruins? is Tuukka Rask ready to be an NHL starter? Will the 38 year old even come back next year?
Here is the article: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=397390
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Edited by - semin-rules on 06/01/2012 13:43:08
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Cyclonis
Top Prospect
Canada
56 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2012 : 16:40:20
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It has been confirmed by the Bruins GM and by Thomas himself on his Facebook profile that he (Thomas) is going to take a year off...can't see the Bruins being too pleased with this even with the rising salary cap and Rask waiting in the wings.
To Tim...Umm yer 38 man is that really a good idea? How many more years do you think someone is going to pay you 5 million a year to play?
Bizzare...not as bizzare as some of the articles posted on his Facebook account about apocolyptic collapses of economy etc. but whatever, no I amnot going to link that bs, google it if your really that interested! Seriously though; A year is a long time when you are 38 in a young man's sport...I think we might be seeing the last of Tim!
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2012 : 16:54:16
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Is it not fair to call this guy selfish? He's hurting the Bruins as his cap hit will still be in effect AND with Rask being an RFA, his bargaining power has just increased significantly. What about offer sheets? As much as they're few and far between, what a chance for a team to up the ante on Rask knowing that the Bruins don't have much in the way of a backup plan as far as a second goalie goes! Now, i'm not aware of what's on the farm, but if Rask were stolen away by a team like Tbay for example, what would the Bruins do with the solid core they have now? The picks they'd get in return wouldn't help them for 3-5 years minimum!
Thomas can't be making too many Bruins fans happy right about now! |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2012 : 21:38:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Alex116
Is it not fair to call this guy selfish? He's hurting the Bruins as his cap hit will still be in effect AND with Rask being an RFA, his bargaining power has just increased significantly
The Bruins will almost certainly suspend Thomas if he doesn't report to camp - regardless of his reason and their knowledge of it. I believe suspended players do not count against the cap. |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2012 : 21:59:56
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quote:
Originally posted by nuxfan
quote:
Originally posted by Alex116
Is it not fair to call this guy selfish? He's hurting the Bruins as his cap hit will still be in effect AND with Rask being an RFA, his bargaining power has just increased significantly
The Bruins will almost certainly suspend Thomas if he doesn't report to camp - regardless of his reason and their knowledge of it. I believe suspended players do not count against the cap.
I wasn't aware that a team could do that. If they can, indeed they most likely will, however, there must be some sort of ramifications, no? It seems like an awfully easy way to get around the rule in place. |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2012 : 00:14:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Alex116
I wasn't aware that a team could do that. If they can, indeed they most likely will, however, there must be some sort of ramifications, no? It seems like an awfully easy way to get around the rule in place.
Teams can suspend any player without pay for not fulfilling the terms of their contract. Taking a year off certainly qualifies. There are not many instances of this since the lockout, although one that comes to mind NSH and Radulov, when he bolted for the KHL he was suspended without pay.
As for getting around the rules in place, you're right - this might be some creative thinking by TT, and how to "retire" without costing BOS anything. His contract is a +35, which means even if he officially retires his cap hit counts against BOS. By walking away from the final year as a "leave of absence", he allows the team to suspend him without pay, and (I believe) remove his salary from the cap.
I had a look around, but cannot find anything definitive regarding off-ice infraction suspensions and cap hit (for on-ice infractions the salary does count towards the cap for the duration of the suspension). Given that his contract was front loaded - 5M cap hit but only 3M owed in the final year - he's not walking away from too much (at least in hockey player land). |
Edited by - nuxfan on 06/05/2012 00:32:30 |
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2012 : 08:45:56
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I recall when Scott Neidermayer was deciding if he was going to retire or not he was suspended by Anaheim and his salary went off the books. Once he decide to play and showed up, Anaheim could not longer suspend him and back goes the cap hit.
That being said, I am hearing a pile of reports stating his salary will still count against the cap for the season. I don't know why, but I think it has to do with the 35+ contract. Rumors I am hearing is that with the NTC in his deal being done as of July 1st, he is doing this so he can not get traded to a team he does not want to play for. This leaves the door open for him as a UFA next July. lthough I don't think too many people will be interested in a 39 yr old goalie who just took a year off.
Considering the whole White House visit and now this, I know it doesn't take two T's to spell TEAM.
Daniel Alfredsson is the MVP of the universe. All hail the Ottawa Senators!!!!! |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2012 : 09:46:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Beans15
This leaves the door open for him as a UFA next July. lthough I don't think too many people will be interested in a 39 yr old goalie who just took a year off.
If BOS does suspend him, I think that he would first owe BOS the last year of his deal, before he could go UFA. That was certainly the way it went with Radulov.
He has a NMC in his contract, so he could veto any trade that BOS cooked up for him anyway. |
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2012 : 10:21:59
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I would think that BOS would be happy to get this contract off the books. If they are paying him for this season then his contract will be 'satisfied' from a financial standpoint and BOS will not be require to keep that fungus for another season.
If they do suspend him I would still think they would want him off the books. Rask is ready and Thomas' $5 million cap hit can be used to pay for Rask and part of another contract.
Good riddance to a great goalie. An oxymoron if I have ever heard one.
Daniel Alfredsson is the MVP of the universe. All hail the Ottawa Senators!!!!! |
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Cyclonis
Top Prospect
Canada
56 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2012 : 12:28:08
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I agree with Alex116 here and it really does seem selfish...but after reading some posts here...maybe this is a ploy to retire with his wage "off the books" as a suspended player due to taking some time off. maybe
How the Bruins act going forward will be a big indicator, especially with Rask needing to be resigned, his terms will say alot about where the Bruins are headed. IMO a one or two year deal won't say much but 4-6 years on a contract means he will be THE goalie whether Tim comes back or not. Creative GM work anyone?
This would not be a suprise as Rask is their next goalie anyway but the contract terms if he signs with them would underscore Rask's importance to the team. i.e. #1 or #2! So do you sign Rask longterm and drop Thomas? I would yes...
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2012 : 16:20:56
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I don't know all the rules around this type of thing so it's hard to comment without kinda guessing. But, if he's doing this to help the Bruins and is willing to be suspended, when can he actually retire officially? If he does it 5 years from now, does his salary then hit them at that point (for his last year?). By then, maybe the cap will be at 100million and it won't affect them as much?
My point is, all these guys surely like to make a retirement official, no? To have the presser, a party, etc and go out on their terms. Then again, this is Tim Thomas we're talking about! He seems to beat to his own drum sotospeak!  |
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Tim Thomas Taking A Year Off? 
