Tim Thomas: Boston Bruins Can't Let Goalie's Selfishness Continue to Hurt Team

The Boston Bruins can't allow Tim Thomas' selfishness to hurt the team any longer now that reports that the goaltender might sit out the 2012-13 NHL season were confirmed by general manager Peter Chiarelli on Friday.

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Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli, on conference call with reporters, confirms that Thomas is considering possibly taking a year off

— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) June 1, 2012"

Friday's news further proves that Thomas is willing to put his own needs above the team's. Yesterday, I wrote that Thomas needs to be traded. I stand by that, but dealing him will be a whole lot harder right now.

If Thomas does in fact sit out the 2012-13 season, the Bruins would still be stuck with his $5 million salary cap hit for next season. There's no way to eliminate that cap hit. However, Chiarelli can take injured forward Marc Savard's $4 million cap hit off of next year's total by using the long-term injury reserve exception.

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In a year when the cap could go down, if TT does sit out, BOS having to use $5M of cap space on a goalie not on roster is a really big hit.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 1, 2012"

Thomas may be trying to force the Bruins to not trade him because threatening to sit out seriously diminishes his trade value. The team can trade him on July 1 when the no-movement clause in his current contract will expire.

Although, no team will acquire him and give up any kind of value when there's a chance he might not even play next year.

Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe shared the reasons why Thomas is considering not playing.

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Acc. Chiarelli, Thomas' top reasons for likely sitting out: 1. family; 2. fatigue.Thomas did not request contract ext.

— Kevin Paul Dupont (@GlobeKPD) June 1, 2012"

While Thomas has played a lot of games over the past two seasons and is probably tired at 38 years old, he's still a top-tier goaltender.

After working so hard to reach the NHL and finally getting an opportunity to be a starter in his 30s, I can't see Thomas walking away when he still has good seasons to play and millions of dollars to make.

Thomas has worked too hard and has fought through way too much adversity to walk away from the NHL when he's currently a Vezina Trophy-caliber goaltender.

Martin Brodeur is playing at a high level at age 40 right now and is currently in the Stanley Cup Final for with the New Jersey Devils.

Thomas has to look at Brodeur and realize that even at age 38 he can still be a fantastic player. He could be the final piece to a team's Stanley Cup puzzle.

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Chiarelli on possibility of trading TT: "He's a world class goalie...he'd help somebody in a big way if he decided to play."^BISH

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 1, 2012"

Does Thomas want an extension with the Bruins? Does he want the team to confirm that he will be the starter over young star Tuukka Rask next season? Who knows, there are so many possibilities here.

But after his antics this week, it would be shocking if Thomas starts in net for the Bruins when the 2012-13 season commences. It's time for the Bruins to prepare for the future as if Thomas has played his last game for the team.

Thomas owes much of his career success to the Bruins, and for him to complicate their offseason plans like this is insulting. The Bruins took a shot on Thomas and helped make him a great goaltender, and this is how he repays them?

His stubbornness and selfishness is embarrassing and it's unfortunately a fitting way for the next chapter of his Bruins career to begin. Thomas was criticized throughout the second half of the season after he put himself above the team by not joining his teammates at the White House for their 2011 Stanley Cup celebration.

They don't need his selfishness poisoning the team any longer.

Follow @NicholasGoss35

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and has covered the team firsthand since the 2010-11 season. He was also the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Final in Boston.