TSN: Neely Says Bruins " Unlikely " To Retire Thomas's # 30

[BruinDust]

He was extremely close to getting to the HHOF. Prior to the White House snub, he was on pace for another Vezina year then the wheels fell off.

3 Vezina's and a Conn Smythe gets you to into the HHOF.

Also Thomas is better than Cheevers. Most overrated goaltender of all time.

A 3rd Vezina would of strengthened his case for the Hall a great deal.

I can't comment on Cheevers as I never saw him play.

 

[KrejciMVP]

I don't see TT as a HOF goalie. He didn't play nearly long enough in the league. He had 2 amazing seasons, and obviously his cup run goaltending was great, but that just doesn't seem like enough to me. Definitely shouldn't have his number retired.

Ken Dryden only played 8 years total (7 full seasons), to age 31, almost the same # of games Thomas played with Boston. Neely's argument about games played should be adjusted with goalies. Thomas certainly had a worse team than the late 70's Canadians.

 

[Gordon Lightfoot]

My bad, I thought Thomas had 3 Vezinas

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

Ken Dryden only played 8 years total (7 full seasons), to age 31, almost the same # of games Thomas played with Boston. Neely's argument about games played should be adjusted with goalies. Thomas certainly had a worse team than the late 70's Canadians.

Ken Dryden won 5 Vezinas, 1 ROY, and 1 Conn Smythe along with 6 Stanley Cups. He's one of the greatest goalies to play the game. I don't see the comparison.

 

[KrejciMVP]

Ken Dryden won 5 Vezinas, 1 ROY, and 1 Conn Smythe along with 6 Stanley Cups. He's one of the greatest goalies to play the game. I don't see the comparison.

Thomas could have easily had those #' on the 70's Canadians. Lets ignore the dominance of that team now and Neely's justification doesn't fit.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Ken Dryden won 5 Vezinas, 1 ROY, and 1 Conn Smythe along with 6 Stanley Cups. He's one of the greatest goalies to play the game. I don't see the comparison.

while i dont disagree, lets be fair too.

the Vezinas that Dryden won were simply Jennings trophies. The Vezina went to the GAA leader until 1981, thats when it became a vote for best goalie

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

Thomas could have easily had those #' on the 70's Canadians. Lets ignore the dominance of that team now and Neely's justification doesn't fit.

Sidney Crosby would have stomped Gretzky's stats if he played in that era. He's still a HOF'er now. Thomas isn't.

 

[missingchicklet]

Thomas is one of my all-time favorite Bruins. His best seasons were among the best in Bruins' history, and one of them resulted in a Cup. I will forever appreciate his play with the Bs and his colorful personality on and off the ice. I wouldn't be upset if he got his number retired or even got into the HOF. I don't think he deserves either one though. Just too late of a bloomer and too short of a career in which he was putting up sick stats. I agree with Neely on this one.

 

[Roll 4 Lines]

Thomas could have easily had those #' on the 70's Canadians. Lets ignore the dominance of that team now and Neely's justification doesn't fit.

Well, we old bastidges remember at least one year when Dryden (That giraffe!) stole the cup from the Bruins almost single handed....

 

[finchster]

while i dont disagree, lets be fair too.

the Vezinas that Dryden won were simply Jennings trophies. The Vezina went to the GAA leader until 1981, thats when it became a vote for best goalie

Yes but he was a first team all-star goaltender five times. That is the Venzia for best goalie before 1981.

 

[patty59]

It's the Hockey Hall of Fame, not the NHL hall of fame. The guy was an absolute beast everywhere he played, mix in 2 Vezinas, a Cup and a Smythe.

 

[northeastern]

Cheevers deserves it more than Timmy... Timmy's career is longer than his good three years

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Thomas' performance will never be forgotten, he might even have a slim HoF chance for his peak, historical seasons.

His # doesn't need to be retired.

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

Don't think his number should be retired at all.

But I would be totally cool with them making a statue of him closelining one of Kostitsyn brothers.

 

[BMC]

Don't think his number should be retired at all.

But I would be totally cool with them making a statue of him closelining one of Kostitsyn brothers.

Or going after Sean Avery

 

[BMC]

Or going after Sean Avery

After watching the video I've changed my mind. Kostitsyn hit all the way simply because he was a motherf***ing Hab

 

[Fenway]

Legends of Hockey - Spotlight - One on One with Frank Brimsek

IF any goaltender should get the honor it has to start with Frank Brimsek

A stand-up goaltender with a lightning-quick catching hand, Frank Brimsek proved to be one of the finest goaltenders ever to play the game, and earned immortality as one of the inaugural inductees into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973, and induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966.

 

[finchster]

Andy Moog says hello

When Andy Moog goes to the HHOF, then there is an argument. Cheevers wasn't a top five goalie in his era and doesn't deserve to be in the HHOF.
Would anyone disagree that Dryden, Esposito, and Parent were better? Probably not.
Giacomin is another guy I think is clearly better.
Plante was still putting up solid numbers in the late 60's early 70's (obviously not his prime)
And Vachon was a solid goaltender who put up some Hart worthy seasons in Los Angeles (Finishing 2nd one year and 3rd in another).

Legends of Hockey - Spotlight - One on One with Frank Brimsek

IF any goaltender should get the honor it has to start with Frank Brimsek

A stand-up goaltender with a lightning-quick catching hand, Frank Brimsek proved to be one of the finest goaltenders ever to play the game, and earned immortality as one of the inaugural inductees into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973, and induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966.

Still the best goaltender the USA has ever produced and probably second only to Chris Chelios as best players ever from the USA. Probably one of the top ten best goalies of all time. The lack of attention he gets from hockey history and Bruins fans is down right appalling

Don't think his number should be retired at all.

But I would be totally cool with them making a statue of him closelining one of Kostitsyn brothers.

I'd prefer a statue of Sedin getting decked by him

 

[Mainehockey33]

Don't think his number should be retired at all.

But I would be totally cool with them making a statue of him closelining one of Kostitsyn brothers.

Thomas was part of the DNA of the big bad Bruins of the time. Thornton, Lucic, Chara and others get more credit but Thomas’s attitude embodied what the team was and why they were so successful. I’m biased because I’ll probably never see a Bruin goaltender have a season like Thomas’s 10-11 season ever again, he’s an all time favorite for me and always will be.

Do I think he deserves to have his number retired? I’m not sure. Like others have said he doesn’t have the longevity even though his peak was probably higher than any other Bruins goaltender in history.

As for the HHOF, not sure about that either, there aren’t a lot of goaltenders in it to begin with. I think his Vezinas, Conn Smyth and Jennings should put him in the conversation.

 

[OldScool]

Willie O'Rees number should be the next to be retired. Tim Thomas was great but not retirement worthy.

 

[McGarnagle]

Willie O'Rees number should be the next to be retired. Tim Thomas was great but not retirement worthy.

With all due respect to Willie O'Ree's accomplishment, he nowhere near merits having his number retired. I don't even know what number he wore off the top of my head.

 

[jgatie]

With all due respect to Willie O'Ree's accomplishment, he nowhere near merits having his number retired. I don't even know what number he wore off the top of my head.

He wore #22.

And I agree. He didn't make the HHOF as a player, but (very deservedly) as a builder. No need to retire his number, despite his accomplishments on and off the ice.

 

[RoccoF14]

Thomas could have easily had those #' on the 70's Canadians. Lets ignore the dominance of that team now and Neely's justification doesn't fit.

"Could have" and "did" are entirely two different things.....

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

It's the Hockey Hall of Fame, not the NHL hall of fame. The guy was an absolute beast everywhere he played, mix in 2 Vezinas, a Cup and a Smythe.

That’s actually a very good point. I didn’t think about it like that, but by the book, it is indeed the “hockey hall of fame” and longevity in the NHL isn’t really supposed to be the determining factor.

 

[b in vancouver]

Love Timmy but if 30 is going up there it’s Cheevers

This is hilarious even thinking TT over Gerry

Absurd

The only way I could see it is if it was both.

I'd be more understanding if Thomas made the HHOF than getting his number retired by The Bruins. Cheevers would be just short of the cusp as is Thomas but could understand if both had a ceremony.
16 has been a long time coming. 37 will get up there. possibly 33 as well - but not sure.