Bruins trade suspended G Tim Thomas to New York Islanders for conditional 2nd-round pick

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Veteran goalie Tim Thomas, who has said he won’t play this season, was traded by the Boston Bruins to the New York Islanders on Thursday for a conditional second-round draft choice either next year or in 2015.

Thomas chose to take this season off following the NHL lockout and was suspended by the Bruins after he didn’t report to training camp last month. The 38-year-old goalie is in the final season of a four-year deal that counts for $5 million against the salary cap.

The Islanders have plenty of room to fit Thomas’ salary on their cap, and this deal provides financial flexibility for the Bruins.

Thomas, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL’s top goalie, has played in 378 regular-season games — all with the Bruins. He has gone 196-121-45 with a 2.48 goals-against average and 31 shutouts. Thomas ranks fourth on Boston’s career wins list and third in shutouts,

He also has a 29-21 mark in the post-season with a 2.07 GAA and six shutouts. Thomas won the Vezina and Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP when the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2011.