from Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe,

Now that Thomas is in Florida, his inimitable game will be back on display. Thomas’s body is recharged after a year off. His mental approach will be even sharper. Thomas is motivated to show everybody he’s still one of the game’s best goalies. One of Thomas’s goals will be to make the US Olympic team. Thomas’s competitors include Jonathan Quick, Jimmy Howard, Ryan Miller, Craig Anderson, and Cory Schneider.

In Boston, the anger is gone. Rask was ready to replace Thomas as the starter. Anton Khudobin was a dependable backup. The Bruins were able to move Thomas’s salary to the Islanders, which freed up enough cash to land Jaromir Jagr from Dallas. Chad Johnson is now wearing Thomas’s No. 30.

Thomas’s ties to New England run deep. He considered Lynnfield home before he decamped to Colorado Springs. Thomas made friends in Providence. He played at the University of Vermont for four years. Thomas’s summer hockey camps have included sessions in Falmouth, Maine.

On Oct. 17, the Bruins will visit Florida. On Nov. 7, the Panthers will play at TD Garden. You can bet Thomas will be in goal for those games. He’ll do big things on both nights, and the league will be better for it.

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