NHL Playoffs 2012: Is Tim Thomas Playing His Last Games for the Bruins?

Realistically speaking, the only way Wednesday night’s Game 7 versus Washington should be Tim Thomas’ last start in a Boston Bruins uniform is if he loses in outright reprehensible fashion. And even in that event, it would not be prudent to let him get away so soon.

Of course, anything is possible and nothing is guaranteed. In light of all that Thomas has done since steamrolling his way to the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy last spring, there is no cause to rule out his abrupt exit from Boston.

Granted, the 38-year-old Thomas still has another year to go on his contract, unlike 25-year-old backup Tuukka Rask. And Anton Khudobin, another 25-year-old, will be using next season trying to earn an extension with the Bruins as well as an eventual full-time roster spot at the NHL level.

But there is still time for Rask to be re-signed ahead of the start of free agency on July 1, the same day Thomas’ no-trade clause expires. If both of Boston’s younger backstops are locked in at that point, general manager Peter Chiarelli may be more willing to let the 2011-12 season sway him in favor of letting the elder goalie take off.

Depending on how much success he attains this spring and his perception of the front office’s stance on his younger colleagues, Thomas may also desire new digs for the closing phases of his career.

His salary is due to slim down from $5 million this season to $3 million in 2012-13. And if Rask is back, Thomas might be happier with a new team that can make him feel more useful beyond next year.

The most logical scenario has Thomas and the Bruins utilizing at least their final scheduled year of partnership before thoroughly transitioning to Rask as the official starter. Thomas’ aptitude doubtlessly peaked last season and his form, at best, will likely be that of this year or 2007-08 from here on out.

He should still be a valuable asset for one or two more seasons, whether he is still playing for the Bruins or donning a different crest. But only Thomas knows if he will even want to continue with the franchise that gave him a chance 10 years ago and patiently harbored him in the minors before integrating him as their hidden-gem starter.

It has been well-documented through the second half of the 2011-12 season that Thomas has never been deemed the topmost team player by his colleagues and higher-ups. That has obviously never been an unsavory issue in the past, but the fact that it has been publicly documented this year could change things.

Once Thomas let his political panther out of the cage amidst the defending champions’ White House visit in January, there was no ushering it back into hiding.

Although he appears to regret the sideshow he unintentionally created, he will have a hard time consistently escaping media inquiries on topics other than hockey. And he has already terminated two media scrums for that very reason, one in February and one prior to the playoffs. (Three strikes and he’s out?)

Whether or not the Bruins are willing to let that slide, Thomas himself may still crave a clean slate, perhaps in a market with less media coverage.

That desire could grow all the more if the Bruins fail to move beyond this year’s first or second round and if Rask is subsequently re-signed.

This will not be like it was two years ago, when Thomas and Rask were still two years younger, Rask was a rookie and Thomas had imminent surgery to overcome.

If all goes according to plan, the Bruins will keep Thomas for the balance of his current contract while phasing in Rask to become the full-time starter by 2013-14. But the seasoned, rags-to-riches, two-time Vezina Trophy winner may have too much pride to have any part of that.