The Islanders have options. They could try to convince Thomas to play this season. They could trade Thomas prior to the trade deadline to a goaltending-hungry contender that believes it could change his mind about playing this season.

Or the Islanders could toll Thomas’s contract forward another year. Thomas would then owe the Islanders a year of service in 2013-14. Nabokov will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Thomas’s cap hit also gives the Islanders additional cushion above the $44 million cap floor. If the Islanders fade, they can trade players such as Visnovsky, Nabokov, or Mark Streit to contenders for picks and prospects.

Thomas concludes his Boston run with a 196-121-45 record with a 2.48 GAA and a .921 save percentage. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL’s best goalie is arguably the sharpest puck-stopper in club history. Thomas could be a Hall of Famer, once a pipe dream for a player passed over by 29 other teams when he was recalled to Boston on waivers.

On Wednesday, Chiarelli delivered the news to the ex-University of Vermont star via phone. Thomas was walking his dogs, according to Chiarelli.