Raycroft's game: Waiting

WILMINGTON -- When Tim Thomas made his way to his stall near the back door of the dressing room at the Ristuccia Center after practice yesterday, the television cameras, microphones, and reporters followed. When the camera lights went on, media members scrambled to get closer to Thomas, not taking notice of the person they were stepping past. As the crowd gathered, Andrew Raycroft politely moved his goalie pads and equipment bags to make room.

The irony certainly wasn't lost on the 25-year-old (now-backup) netminder. In 2003-04, Raycroft won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year and he was the one everybody wanted to talk to. This season, he's still trying to find where he fits.

''It is what it is," Raycroft said with a shrug. ''You've got to show up and try to stick with it. You can't do much else."

Coming into training camp, Raycroft was unquestionably the No. 1 goalie. When he suffered a hamstring strain in late October that knocked him out of the lineup for five games, rookie Hannu Toivonen stepped in and established himself as the Bruins tried to rebound from a rough start. When Raycroft came back, the Bruins stumbled again in front of him, and the netminder struggled to find his game. Then a right leg injury sidelined him for another five games.

Now, Toivonen is out until after the Olympic break, Thomas is flying high, and Raycroft -- who had a one-game conditioning stint in Providence after the second injury -- likely won't see any game action until the break is over. When all three goalies are healthy, the Bruins' front office will have some decisions to make leading up to the March 9 trade deadline.

Raycroft said he knows there's potential for him to be No. 3 on the Bruins' depth chart or be dealt, but until something happens to alter his status, he'll keep plugging along.

''I've made a lot of friends here," he said. ''You don't want to have go anywhere else. I'd like it to work out here. But again, it's the business side of it and I understand it, too. I'm not going to be naive. There aren't many guys like Ray [Bourque] who have 20 years on one team, and I'm comfortable with that, I get it. But that's not to say I don't want to be here, that's for sure."

Raycroft said he has grown accustomed to trade rumors, but until he gets a call from general manager Mike O'Connell saying he's gone, he'll continue to shrug them off.

''It's been two months now, 'Where is Raycroft going?' or 'Who's he going to?' so I'm almost used to it now," he said. ''It shouldn't be like that but it's good. I'm used to it. Obviously something is going to happen, something is going to give, and when it does, it will work out for the best one way or another."

As the Bruins prepare to play a matinee against the Canadiens today in Montreal, Raycroft said he feels a kinship with Habs goalie Jose Theodore, who is having a difficult season after being the toast of the town earlier in his career.

''Every year there are 10 guys who have tough years," Raycroft said. ''You try to get through it. It's not the end of the world for guys. I completely understand where he is. We're in similar positions right now. It's frustrating and it's tough, but it doesn't mean he's a bad goalie. He's going through a tough stretch.

''When it comes down to it, if you're going to pick a guy, he's one of the top 10 guys you're going to pick to have in your net. I think people lose perspective of that pretty quickly. A couple of bad games and you write the guy off. But when it comes right down to it, there are a lot of people who would like to have him on their team."

No doubt there are many teams that feel the same way about Raycroft. Coach Mike Sullivan continues to declare the Bruins have three goaltenders they believe in. Raycroft said he intends to spend the break stretching and strengthening his leg. He wants another chance to prove what he can do, but he understands why Thomas is getting the nod every game.

''They're going to keep running with him," Raycroft said. ''But the longer you don't play, the much harder it is. I haven't played many games. It makes it tough to stay focused and stay ready if you don't play.

''Timing is everything in life. The timing I've had, it hasn't worked out the way I wanted. I get a chance to play and I get hurt, I get a chance to play and I get hurt. It just throws you off, but that's the way it goes, that's hockey. It's a long career, hopefully, and you try to get through it day by day. My confidence is fine. I know I can play, I know I'm all right."