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Report: Tim Thomas may attempt comeback next season

Tim Thomas

Boston Bruins’ goalie Tim Thomas (30) skates onto the ice during the team’s warmups prior to their NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012, in Washington. Thomas says he didn’t attend the White House ceremony with President Barack Obama honoring the team for its 2011 Stanley Cup Championship on Monday because he believes the federal government “has grown out of control” and threatens rights and liberties. (AP Photo/Richard Lipski)

AP

It looks like Tim Thomas’ unique and interesting hockey career might not be over.

Although his agent said that everything is status quo with Thomas, it wouldn’t be surprising if he attempted a comeback in 2013-14, according to CBC’s Elliotte Friedman.

That news would likely be particularly interesting to the New York Islanders, who traded for Thomas’ rights despite the fact that he decided not to play this season.

Although Thomas’ contract is set to expire this summer, the Islanders have the right to toll his contract to the 2013-14 campaign. In other words, if the Islanders wanted to keep him under their control, they can do so after he refused to report this season.

That being said, there is apparently a chance that he will sidestep the NHL entirely. Friedman’s sources indicated that Thomas playing in Europe is another possibility. The Michigan-native had success in the Finnish League before he finally established himself in the NHL.

There’s also of course the question of how effective the 39-year-old goaltender will be after taking a year off. If he’s able to shake off the rust and willing to play for the Islanders, he would be a big boost for a franchise that seems to be on the rise.