It appears Rick DiPietro’s trip to the American Hockey League won’t affect Tim Thomas’ relationship with the New York Islanders.
Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe spoke with Bill Zito -- the agent representing both Thomas and Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask -- who said that DiPietro going on waivers (then clearing, then being sent to AHL Bridgeport) won’t spur Thomas back into action.
From the Globe:
Zito also still represents Tim Thomas, Boston’s former No. 1 goalie whose rights were traded three weeks ago to the Islanders. But the Bruins won’t see Thomas in the Islanders net or on their bench Tuesday night.
According to Zito, the two-time Vezina winner remains in Colorado with his family, still undecided whether he wants to resume his NHL career.
“Nothing’s changed,’’ Zito said. “I got a lot of calls and e-mails last week when [the Islanders] put [Rick] DiPietro on waivers. But nothing’s changed with Timmy.’’
In DiPietro’s place, Kevin Poulin was recalled from Bridgeport to serve as Evgeni Nabokov’s backup -- which may be partly why there were questions about Thomas’ potential return.
Poulin was solid at times in his season debut -- Sunday’s 4-2 loss to Carolina -- but is only 22 years old, and hasn’t shown a ton of consistency at the AHL level.