Goaltender Tim Thomas signs 1-year deal with Florida Panthers

SUNRISE, Fla. - Tim Thomas is officially back in the NHL.

The Stanley Cup-winning goalie signed a one-year contract Thursday with the Florida Panthers, a move that was expected for several days. Financial terms were not released.

The 39-year-old Thomas took last season off, then decided he was ready to return to hockey.

His signing is part of a busy week for the Panthers. The team will introduce Vincent Viola as its new owner on Friday, a person familiar withi the situation told The Associated Press.

Thomas has played in 378 NHL games, all with Boston. He's stopped 92 per cent of the shots he has faced, with a 2.48 goals-against average. He led the Bruins to the 2011 Stanley Cup.