5 Players Who Should Follow Tim Thomas and Take a Year off

Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins will take a year off from the NHL in 2012-13, and there are some other players who could follow his lead.

There are many reasons for a player to take a year off, but sometimes taking a season off can recharge you physically and mentally so you can come back stronger.

Let's look at five players who could follow Thomas and take a year off.

Alexander Semin

Alexander Semin should not take a year off from hockey, but he should take a year off from the NHL. He was criticized a lot last season, and he would be wise to play in the KHL next season and improve his great offensive talents with first-line minutes.

It's also possible that he could make more money in the KHL than he would in the NHL. If he doesn't leave the NHL, Semin will need to prove that he can be consistent and responsible in all parts of the ice.

Sean Avery

It's unlikely that Sean Avery thinks his days as an NHL player are over. His lack of maturity is probably one reason why he didn't finish the season in the NHL.

If he takes a year off and dedicates himself to being a more mature individual, then he might get a shot with an NHL team again.

He still has enough talent to be a contributor at the NHL level as a penalty killer and a third/fourth line player.

Nathan Horton

I doubt Nathan Horton would consider taking a year off from the Boston Bruins after missing a large part of last season recovering from a concussion. He's a competitive guy and wants to be on the ice.

However, since Horton is only 27 years old and has already suffered two concussions, taking a year off to ensure he has recovered fully might be a good idea.

He is set to become an unrestricted free agent after next season and will be a coveted player despite his history of concussions.

Daniel Carcillo

Daniel Carcillo is recovering from a season-ending ACL injury and was also suspended twice last season. He would be wise to take a year off and make sure he's healthy going forward and a more respectable player on the ice.

If teams are going to be interested in a third/fourth-line player like Carcillo, they need to know that he doesn't have any major injury concerns.

Chris Pronger

Chris Pronger should take next year off even if doctors clear him to play at any point in the season. He needs to make sure that he's 100 percent ready for NHL contact before he decides to come back to the sport, if he ever does.

There's no reason to put his long-term health at risk.