The Boston Bruins have confirmed there's a very real possibility that Tim Thomas will not play in 2012-13. "I'm approaching this season as if Tim Thomas won't be playing next year," Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli. "There's a strong chance he'll be taking the year off." Apparently Chiarelli has known of this possibility since the beginning of May. Thomas comes with a $5 million cap hit and his contract will expire in the summer of 2013. However, if he takes a full season off, there's a good chance that he will not be able to stage an effective comeback. Thomas will be 39 by the time he hits the free agent market.