While the Bruins prepare for this weekend's NHL Draft, in which they have the No. 2 overall pick, there is a report that they have already prioritized their offseason plans, and at the top of the list is trading away goalie Tim Thomas, this according to Joe Haggerty at CSNNE.com.
Thomas, who comes with a $5 million salary cap hit, lost his starting job to rookie Tuuka Rask this past season, and is apparently willing to waive his no-trade clause.
Sources also indicated both the San Jose Sharks and Tampa Bay Lightning are in the mix in discussions with the Bruins for Thomas, and the Philadelphia Flyers are also a potential suitor if they can shed some salary cap baggage leading up to the July 1 free agent deadline.
"They've got to move the salary," one source with knowledge of the situation told CSNNE.com. "They don't have a whole lot of choice. The challenge is finding a place willing to take him and the salary that goes along with him."
Thomas underwent hip surgery recently, but according to "several sources," it was only minor and Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli said that the goalie would be ready to go for the start of camp this fall.
SB Nation's Bruins blog, Stanley Cup Of Chowder, says it's time to send Thomas elsewhere, and not just because he is set to make $6 million in 2010-11.
Thomas has had to work hard to get to where he is today and I get the feeling that he does not want to be a back-up at this stage in his career. Having a guy like Thomas around that feels as though he should be the starter and is making starter's money can not be good for the room. Giving Tim Thomas the opportunity to start somewhere else is the best move for all parties involved. Now, the Bruins just need to find a
suckertrade partner that is willing to take on one of the worst contracts in the league for a overrated, 36-year-old goalie coming off of off-season hip surgery.
And with Montreal shipping Jaroslav Halak to St. Louis last week, apparently the trade talk for Thomas is heating up.