Tim Thomas has reportedly been traded to the Islanders. (ADAM HUNGER/Reuters file photo)
The Boston Bruins found a taker for goaltender Tim Thomas.
Thomas, currently in a self-imposed exile from the NHL, was traded to the New York Islanders on Thursday for a conditional second-round draft pick in either 2014 or 2015. The condition is that Thomas play one game for the Isles, according to reports.
"We have acquired an asset for our organization," Islanders general manager Garth Snow said in a statement. "This acquisition allows us flexibility with our roster moving forward."
The trade may be cap-related as the Islanders needed to reach the salary floor by Friday. The Islanders' cap hit before the trade was about $50.5 million whereas the floor is set at $54.2 million. Thomas comes with a cap hit of $5 million. New York also added defenceman Lubomir Visnovsky and his $5.6 million cap hit to the active roster Thursday.
Thomas announced in June that he was taking the year off hockey to spend more time with his family. Thomas, 38, is subject to the 35-and-over rule for contracts and therefore his deal counted against Boston's cap. As a result, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli suspended Thomas without pay.
Thomas is in the final year of a four-year, $20 million contract.
