The Washington Capitals have acquired goaltender Logan Thompson from the Vegas Golden Knights in trade for Choose 83 this yr and Washington’s 2025 third-round choose, per Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Overview-Journal.
This commerce offers Washington a fast reply to who would fill Darcy Kuemper’s position after he was swapped for Pierre-Luc Dubois. Kuemper served as Washington’s most popular starter final yr, although he was restricted to only 33 appearances on account of harm and private absences. He additionally wasn’t close to his regular self within the video games he did play, recording simply 13 wins and a .890 save proportion, the primary sub-.900 season of his profession.
In Kuemper’s absence, Charlie Lindgren staked a powerful declare on Washington’s beginning position. He recorded 25 wins and a .911 save proportion by means of 50 appearances, exhibiting the potential to win video games for the Capitals when their offense wasn’t shifting. He faltered a bit within the postseason — permitting 14 targets on 93 photographs because the Capitals acquired swept — however Lindgren’s left his mark all the identical, commanding the NHL beginning position after only one yr in a full-time backup place.
Lindgren ought to be the favourite to hold onto Washington’s beginning position once more subsequent yr. In spite of everything, he’s now the highest-paid goalie on the roster. However he’ll face like competitors in Thompson, who assumed Vegas’ beginning position to good impact within the wake of accidents to Adin Hill. Thompson, 27, recorded 25 wins and a .908 save proportion in 46 video games this season, persevering with the robust begin to his NHL profession that started in 2021. He’s since totaled 58 wins and a .912 save proportion by means of 107 profession video games. That’s a unbelievable monitor document to accumulate through commerce, particularly for a technically cheaper contract than the veteran’s minimal of $775K.
Thompson will be part of what ought to be a enjoyable competitors for goalie minutes, combating with Lindgren and Hunter Shepard. Thompson’s consistency may converse to the best upside of the three.
For his or her half in supporting Washington’s goaltending room, Vegas receives a pair of picks and a bit extra freedom with their goalies. Adin Hill has proved dazzling when he stays wholesome, boasting a profession .910 save proportion by means of 139 video games. He’ll now be the workforce’s unquestioned starter heading into subsequent season, whereas Jiri Patera and Isaiah Saville will compete for the backup position, pending one other transfer.
