Hockey's Trading Week Ends With a Flurry (not Theo)

Time to wrap up your NHL Trade Deadline deals and as usual, there were quite a few of them. This year though, outside the Martin St. Louis to the Rangers deal, no earth shakers.

Let's start with the aforementioned Mr. St. Louis.

The long-time Tampa Bay Lightning sniper, age 38, leaves sunny Florida for the New York Rangers. In return, the Bolts get Ryan Callahan and a couple of draft picks.

There was friction in Tampa between St. Louis and team G.M Steve Yzerman and Callahan, a soon to be unrestricted free agent, wasn't able to come to a contract extension in New York.

Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars swapped goaltenders. Tim Thomas leaves Florida and Dan Ellis leaves Dallas. The Stars are battling for a playoff berth and believe Thomas gives them some stability along with fellow goalie Kari Lehtonen.

The last "Name" move was Jaroslav Halak moving to his 3rd team this season. Halak, recently acquired by Buffalo in the Ryan Miller trade with St. Louis--not San--louie. The Sabres sent Halak to Washington for a 2015 3rd round pick.

Oh, and Columbus sends former all-star Marion Gaborik to Los Angeles for a couple draft picks and forward Matt Frattin

Those are the biggies--How did your team do? Let us know what you think....

Meanwhile, the nattily dressed Barry Melrose breaks down the St. Louis deal on ESPN:

New Candidate For Save Of The Year...???

((HT: Sportsnet))

Okay...

You tell us...

What do you think...???

Tim Thomas and Mike Green... and Green didn't win out on the breakaway...

Tim Thomas Crowns Soderberg In His Return To Boston

((HT: FS Florida))

Florida Panthers goalie Tim Thomas returned to Boston tonight and is known for always protecting his crease and his teammates...

The game was out of hand, down 6-2 very late, as Thomas had a rough night...
So, he ended it this way with a right cross for Carl Soderberg...


New uni, same old crotchety Tim Thomas...
And we're better for it...

DEVELOPING: Tim Thomas Sitting Out Next NHL Season

Tim Thomas announced on his Facebook page that he won't play in the final season of his contract- the 2012-2013 season.

Thomas wrote a lengthy Facebook message on the matter, stating the he's leaving to focus on the "three F's": "Faith, Family and Friends." Thomas is leaving $5 million on the table- all of it counting against the Bruins' salary cap.

And you know that really sits well with Peter Chiarelli and his off-season plans...

Here's more of the message...

From the earliest age I can remember, I've wanted to be a hockey player. I've been blessed in my life to not only be able to live that dream, but to achieve more than I ever thought possible.

The singleminded focus that is necessary to accomplish a dream of this magnitude entails (by necessity) sacrifice in other areas and relationships in life.

At the age of 38, I believe it is time to put my time and energies into those areas and relationships that I have neglected. That is why at this time I feel the most important thing I can do in my life is to reconnect with the three F's.

Friends, Family, and Faith.

This is what I plan on doing over the course of the next year.

Maybe Peggy can help Chiarelli...

Tim Thomas Exercises Free Speech By Lack Of Assembly

It was that day for the Boston Bruins...

They got to meet the Commander-in-Chief, give him an honorary sweater, take pictures, and go on their merry way. But one of the two Americans on the squad, all-everything goalie Tim Thomas, decided not to show and join the group.

GM Peter Chiarelli tried to convince him otherwise, but #TimThomaswouldntgo...

Here's Thomas' explanation as to why...

"I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People.

This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government.

Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL.

This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic. TT"

Here's what the rest of the class did...
((HT: NHL))


Sufficed to say, the HQ thinks Tim Thomas doesn't like the idea of everyone getting a trophy...