The random signing of Tim Thomas before the 2002-03 season was actually one of the most brilliant moves the Bruins' front office has made in this generation.
It would've been very easy for the entire NHL to write off Tim Thomas as a career European goaltender after the way his career began. Thomas was an excellent goalie at the University of Vermont, but he bounced around the North American minor leagues and Europe for the next five seasons before the Boston Bruins took a chance on him.