In response to Orrthebest's comment:

In response to BsLegion's comment:

To me when they say conditional pick I don't think if TT signs as a UFA the Buins get anything.

Just the fact they free up some cap space it's a win win situation.

Thank you Mr Thomas for 2011

The Islanders have the option to toll TT's contract and I can not think of one reason they wouldn't toll it.  I would be surprised too see TT hit free agency.

that's right !!! Wouldn't that be lovely for TT, he'll belong to the Islanders next year and might demand to be traded.  Now it wouldbe the Islanders that control his destiny and that's Karma .

The Isles were over the cap floor before making this trade, so getting TT gives them flexibility to dump some high $$$ contracts and still remain over the floor. Have to wonder if there is any limit to them tolling TT's contract each year that he doesn't show (unless he officially retires I guess). 

Beautiful.  

We clear $5M; Isles make the cap floor.  

If he plays, we get a 2nd rounder who could be the next Lucic or the next Yuri Alexandrov, a 50/50 proposition.

Wins all around.  Even Thomas - who has his name on the Cup, a Vezina, a Conn Smythe, and the option to retire before 40 without worrying about hitting the soup kitchen with the money he's earned for himself and his family.  Should we all be so lucky....

The Isles were over the cap floor before making this trade, so getting TT gives them flexibility to dump some high $$$ contracts and still remain over the floor. Have to wonder if there is any limit to them tolling TT's contract each year that he doesn't show (unless he officially retires I guess). 

In response to islamorada's comment:

So if TT does not play this year and is a UFA, how do the Bs get a draft pick?  If he plays again and is a UFA from the Islanders how do the Bs secure the pick and from whom?  Strange Brew!  I don't get it, must be the traveling today!  Fletch has it correct: salary dump!  Better than a buyout even if the Bs don't get a pick.  Yup, the third line is a wanting.  On a pure speculative point, what two players are bought out next year?  Badhab was right, TT was traded.  I was right, I think (see above), the Bs got nuttin!  I capitulate Badhobbit.

The Bruins will get Isles #2 pick unless he outright quits hockey (retires).

In response to Not-A-Shot's comment:

"In response to dezaruchi's comment:
In response to shuperman's comment:

In response to dezaruchi's comment:

In response to shuperman's comment:

In response to BadHabitude's comment:"

Shupe, for Christ sake!!!

                                                  LOL!!!

@Fletch                     http://www.capgeek.com/islanders

     http://nhl.si.com/2013/02/07/bruins-trade-tim-thomas-to-islanders/?sct=hp_t2blog_a7

"Even if Thomas never plays for them, this was a huge win for the Islanders. Thomas' hit ensures they will avoid fines for being below the NHLs salary cap floor that were set to kick in on Friday. And they hit that floor without actually having to pay actual salary.

Thomas has been suspended all season and was not being paid by the Bruins. Assuming that he doesn’t report, the Islanders will not have to pay him, either. It's a loophole exploitation that likely won’t go over well with the NHL Players' Association, but one that’s perfectly legal under the new CBA.

TSN’s Bob McKenzie is reporting that the Islanders will be able to toll Thomas' contract, essentially keeping him on the books until he decides to play or retire. That could allow them to flip the netminder for an asset down the road, but more importantly it leaves his cap hit there for the indefinite future"

It looks that way...

In response to Dave24's comment:

The Isles were over the cap floor before making this trade, so getting TT gives them flexibility to dump some high $$$ contracts and still remain over the floor. Have to wonder if there is any limit to them tolling TT's contract each year that he doesn't show (unless he officially retires I guess). 

I've read multiple reports to the contrary, somebody clear this up.

In response to ipotnyc's comment:

Beautiful.  

We clear $5M; Isles make the cap floor.  

If he plays, we get a 2nd rounder who could be the next Lucic or the next Yuri Alexandrov, a 50/50 proposition.

Wins all around.  Even Thomas - who has his name on the Cup, a Vezina, a Conn Smythe, and the option to retire before 40 without worrying about hitting the soup kitchen with the money he's earned for himself and his family.  Should we all be so lucky....

I totally agree, except not everyone is a winner.  If I were an Isles fan this would outrage me (as somebody else already mentioned).  Their team just put 'fake' money against the cap to get to the floor.  They chose this route so they didn't have spend real cap money to improve their team and essentially circumvented the concept of the cap floor.  I can't imagine rooting for that team, or being in John Tavares' shoes right now.  They aren't trying to win.  Maybe Thomas comes back and is good, but until then I would never buy tickets to see a team that refuses to even spend the to the cap floor.  And they have the money.

https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/statuses/299646262066696192

You per usual did not read my post.  If TT decides to play as a UFA, the Bs get nuttin.  

This was a cap saving move.

To others:  TT picture holding the Cup adorns my Bs wall along with the personalized message from Ray Bourque.  My years of having the Bs pennant on my walls as a teacher was recognized by many a former student in 2011.  TT made it happen along with the rest of the TEAM!

In response to BadHabitude's comment:

In response to islamorada's comment:

So if TT does not play this year and is a UFA, how do the Bs get a draft pick?  If he plays again and is a UFA from the Islanders how do the Bs secure the pick and from whom?  Strange Brew!  I don't get it, must be the traveling today!  Fletch has it correct: salary dump!  Better than a buyout even if the Bs don't get a pick.  Yup, the third line is a wanting.  On a pure speculative point, what two players are bought out next year?  Badhab was right, TT was traded.  I was right, I think (see above), the Bs got nuttin!  I capitulate Badhobbit.

The Bruins will get Isles #2 pick unless he outright quits hockey (retires).

Wow, was I wrong.  I never thought this would happen.  I think I went way out of my way to say it would never happen.  Obla di.

If I'm an Islanders fan, I put all of my stuff on eBay and buy Rangers gear.  Wang is a billionaire (I think) and they are using empty contracts to avoid haivng to spend the minimum?  Forget that.

In response to Drewski5's comment:

I totally agree, except not everyone is a winner.  If I were an Isles fan this would outrage me (as somebody else already mentioned).  Their team just put 'fake' money against the cap to get to the floor.  They chose this route so they didn't have spend real cap money to improve their team and essentially circumvented the concept of the cap floor.  I can't imagine rooting for that team, or being in John Tavares' shoes right now.  They aren't trying to win.  Maybe Thomas comes back and is good, but until then I would never buy tickets to see a team that refuses to even spend the to the cap floor.  And they have the money.

Sucking for a while can net you high draft picks that you can tehn develop. I personally think free agents only make sense if they increase your chances of making the playoffs.  If your team is so far from teh playoffs that FA arent going to matter, there is somethign to be said for going into the tank for a couple years, trading everything of value for picks, stockpile high picks and stock your farm.

At leats this is what I would be telling myself if I was an Isles fan, haha.

In response to Fletcher1's comment:

In response to Drewski5's comment:

I totally agree, except not everyone is a winner.  If I were an Isles fan this would outrage me (as somebody else already mentioned).  Their team just put 'fake' money against the cap to get to the floor.  They chose this route so they didn't have spend real cap money to improve their team and essentially circumvented the concept of the cap floor.  I can't imagine rooting for that team, or being in John Tavares' shoes right now.  They aren't trying to win.  Maybe Thomas comes back and is good, but until then I would never buy tickets to see a team that refuses to even spend the to the cap floor.  And they have the money.

Sucking for a while can net you high draft picks that you can tehn develop. I personally think free agents only make sense if they increase your chances of making the playoffs.  If your team is so far from teh playoffs that FA arent going to matter, there is somethign to be said for going into the tank for a couple years, trading everything of value for picks, stockpile high picks and stock your farm.

At leats this is what I would be telling myself if I was an Isles fan, haha.

But the Isles have been 'getting draft picks' for 15 years and they stink every season.  With a conrnerstone player like Taveres and some good young talent on the roster, you might want them to at least spend to the cap floor this year.  Especially if you were an Isles fan/season ticket holder (can you imagine?).  I see this as Wang just finding a way to save more money, circumnavigate the cap floor, and allow his team to continue to stink until they move to NYC.  If I'm an Isles fan, I've lost hope. 

Well...I hope he will plays next season..so the Bruins get their 2014 2nd round pick