American goaltender Tim Thomas, who was the most valuable player of the 2011 Stanley Cup finals, has joined the Florida Panthers on a tryout basis.
The two-time Vezina Trophy winner as the league’s top goaltender skated with the Panthers for the first time Tuesday in a practice.
“Now I’m energized and I’m looking forward to playing,” Thomas said. “I feel great.”
The 39-year-old Thomas played eight seasons with the Boston Bruins but did not play during last year’s lockout-shortened season.
The Bruins traded him to the New York Islanders last February but his contract expired before he played any games with New York.
Thomas won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender in 2009 and 2011. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP during Boston’s Stanley Cup championship run at the end of the 2010-11 season.
He returned to the Bruins the next season and in 59 games he went 35-19-1 with a 2.36 goals-against average.
Thomas, who won a silver medal with the United States at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, has 31 shutouts in his NHL career.
Thomas joins Panthers on tryout basis
