Jim Thomson was born December 30, 1965 in Edmonton, Alberta. The eighth choice, 185th overall selection of the Washington Capitals in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, Thomson is a graduate of the OHL's Toronto Marlboros.
Thomson spent two seasons with the Marlboros before making his professional debut with the AHL's Binghamton Whalers during the 1984-85 season. In his first full season with Binghamton in 1985-86, the Edmonton, Alberta native tallied 24 points (15-9-24) in 59 games. Although he spent the majority of the following year in the AHL, Thomson continued to hone his skills with Binghamton and managed to see action in ten games with the Capitals that season.
After splitting the better part of the next two seasons between the AHL and Washington, Thomson was traded to the Hartford Whalers in the latter stages of the 1988-89 season. Following a brief stay in Hartford, Thomson was off to New Jersey where he split his time with the Devils and their AHL affiliate in Utica.
In the summer of 1990, Jim Thomson signed as a free-agent with the Los Angeles Kings. After one season with the Kings organization, Thomson was claimed by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1991 NHL Expansion Draft before being traded back to Los Angeles later that summer. Thomson's journey continued midway through the 1992-93 season when he was acquired by the Ottawa Senators.
After only 15 games in Ottawa, the Anaheim Mighty Ducks claimed the eight-year veteran in the 1993 Expansion Draft. Thomson went on to play only six games with Anaheim before calling it a career.
Throughout his career, Jim Thomson played in 115 NHL games.
