Hard to believe how far he's fallen. Remember Jim Carey? Not the actor, but the goalie? Weird similarity there. American goalie, won the Vezina with the Caps in 1996 at 22 years old. Gets traded to Boston and flames out. What other Vezina winner do you not remember from the years you've been watching hockey? That may be right up there with Alexander Daigle and Patrick Stefan the biggest disappointments in the NHL in our generation.
Thomas is older, but another American goaltender who wins the Vezina in his first season as undisputed goalie for his team, and carries it to the President's trophy. This year, granted they've been hit hard by injuries (but what team hasn't. Losing Kessel really hurt this team. 37 goal scorers aren't replaced easily.), but Thomas has been awful this year. He's no longer the starter, and Tuuka Raask has carried this team into the 8th spot.
How does this not end tragically for Thomas? Raask has statistically been among the best goalies in the league, and has excelled in Europe and the AHL.
$5 million is expensive for a backup, over 30 goalie. Anyone other than Philly desperate enough to trade for him at that cap hit (Briere for Thomas)? I can't see him being anything more than a waiver claim at half the hit on a recall, or him unfortunately disappearing to Providence for the remainder of his contract.
I hope I'm way off base with this. But, let's be honest. With Tuuka Raask needing starter's money (and barring injury to or collosal collapse by Raask), if Thomas makes a comeback to the elite goalie status, it won't be as a Bruin.
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