Report: Tim Thomas returns to Bruins organization for Game 7

In a move that NO ONE saw coming, former Boston Bruins goaltender and 2011 Stanley Cup winner Tim Thomas will be at TD Garden for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final this evening and reports are surfacing that he’ll in fact be the team’s flag bearer prior to puck drop.

Check it out:

Thomas, of course, went from hero to zero with Boston sports fans after leading the team to a Cup championship in 2011 but ended up turning his back on the franchise in 2012. Thomas captured the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP in 2011, but announced after the 2011-12 season that he was taking some time away from the game and wasn’t sure whether or not he’d return. Thomas was ultimately suspended from the team and traded  during the 2012-13 season.

After winning the Stanley Cup in 2011, Thomas skipped the traditional victors' meet-and-greet with President Barack Obama at the White House on January 23, 2012 in protest. He released a statement regarding his absence:

I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People.

This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government.

Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL.

This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic. TT

Since retiring from professional hockey in 2014, Thomas has made no public appearances or statements… until tonight.