The former Bruins goalie intends to explore his options this offseason, with sights on a possible return to the NHL this fall.
The news, first reported by InGoal Magazine’s Kevin Woodley and reiterated by TSN’s Bob McKenzie and ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun, was confirmed by Thomas’ agent in a tweet Monday afternoon.
Now 39, Thomas has not seen game action in over a year. He started 55 regular-season games for the Bruins in 2011-12 and all seven games in a first-round series loss to Washington, but chose to sit out the entirety of the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign for personal reasons.
The Bruins traded Thomas to the Islanders for a second-round pick in February, but he never suited up for the team and will become an unrestricted free agent this Friday.
Whether or not Thomas can return to his Vezina-winning form of 2011 is very much in question, especially after such an extended layoff, but he will certainly draw interest from clubs this summer. Expect the Flyers, who cut ties with high-priced goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov last week after two underwhelming seasons, to be among those vying for the former Bruin’s services.
