Shawn Thornton’s Reaction to Tim Thomas

“A little bit,” he admitted. “I don’t talk to him on a daily basis — I haven’t talked to him since the season ended — so I really didn’t know where his head was at. But, yeah, I was a little surprised, but, you know, to each his own.”

But, he added: “I’d rather somebody came with their heart and head into it instead of just going through the motions and collecting a paycheck, which I don’t think anybody would be happy with, either.”

As for Thomas’ heir apparent, Tuukka Rask, Thornton joked, “Can’t really give an opinion on what the crazy Finn’s thinking.” But he seemed comfortable with the notion of Rask as the No. 1 goaltender.