Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Top 2012: Tim Thomas, the White House and Facebook

Boston Bruins v Phoenix Coyotes

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: Goaltender Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins walks back to the locker room before the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on December 28, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Getty Images

What a difference a year makes.

In 2011, Tim Thomas had the type of season most only dream of. He won the Stanley Cup, the Conn Smythe and the Vezina Trophy, becoming one of the most successful American netminders in NHL history.

But 2012?

Yeah, 2012 wasn’t so good for Timmy.

The year saw a Thomas embark on a bizarre sequence of events not even the most imaginative mind could’ve concocted.

In the span of January to June, he...

-- Skipped the Bruins’ celebratory White House visit with President Obama.

-- Explained his decision (via Facebook!), stating “I believe the federal government has grown out of control.”

-- Refused to discuss his decision, saying “those are my personal beliefs,” and “it has nothing to do with hockey.”

-- Became the subject of trade rumors.

-- Posted a statement (via Facebook!) about standing “with the Catholics in the fight for religious freedom.”

-- Kept stonewalling reporters, creating some awkward/uncomfortable press scrums (see here and here.)

-- Lost in the opening round of the playoffs.

-- Confirmed reports (via Facebook!) he would take the 2012-13 season off, claiming he needed time away from hockey to “reconnect with the three F’s: Friends, Family and Faith.”

-- Waived his no-movement clause.

-- Stated (via Facebook!) that he stood with Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy regarding his stance on marriage.

Just to re-iterate: All of that occurred within six months.

Despite this strange saga, it’s unlikely we’ve heard the last of Tim Thomas.

Reports surfaced last week he’d participated in an NHLPA conference call and, lest we forget, he does have plans to represent Team USA at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

Related

Anonymous Bruin on Thomas: “He’s not my teammate”

Thornton on Thomas: “I’d rather have somebody coming in with their head and heart into it”

Rask didn’t expect Thomas to leave, but wasn’t shocked