BOSTON (CBS) — Fans weren’t alone in being left in the dark when it came to Tim Thomas’ plans for the future.

Not only did the Bruins’ netminder not inform general manager Peter Chiarelli that he intends to sit out next season, but he also didn’t inform his captain or any of his teammates.

“I was surprised like everybody else. Obviously he never mentioned anything to me or us as a team. But that’s his decision and he has to deal with it,” Chara said Tuesday, according to the Boston Herald.

Patrice Bergeron, an alternate captain and the longest-tenured current Bruin who’s played with Thomas for much of the past decade, also found out through the media about Thomas’ future plans.

“I was obviously surprised. No one was expecting it,” he said.

Despite their initial surprise, Bergeron and Chara respected Thomas’ decision.

“It’s his decision and he said it was to spend more time with his family,” Bergeron said. “You have to respect that. There’s nothing I can say or judge that’s going to make a difference. I’m no one to judge that.”