Logan Thompson took an unlikely path to NHL starter
When the Vegas Golden Knights handed Marc-Andre Fleury to the Chicago Blackhawks for essentially nothing in 2021, it signaled the start of a new era.
Fleury had been the team’s No. 1 goalie since Day 1 and even after it added Robin Lehner in 2020. But with Lehner signed to a long-term extension, that marked the end for a true fan favorite in Sin City. But then Lehner struggled in 2021-22, fighting injuries and inconsistent play. Statistically, it was a big step down from his run to becoming a Vezina Trophy finalist just two years earlier. And then, with a month to go before the start of the 2022-23 pre-season, the Golden Knights announced Lehner was done for the season before it even began due to hip surgery.
It was a total disaster, especially since the team’s tight cap situation meant they couldn’t go out and make a trade. Even after giving away Max Pacioretty to Carolina – also for free – the club found themselves with no room to spare.
They eventually went and snagged Adin Hill from San Jose, but early on, Logan Thompson has emerged in the top spot. And with the way he’s playing early, there are definite signs he can be a true No. 1 in the NHL.
His route to Vegas is a bit of an unusual one. He went undrafted after a four-year run in the WHL, eventually taking his talents to Brock University. Brock plays in the Canadian university league, U Sports, which focuses on giving opportunities to CHL and CJHL graduates. The occasional NHLer comes from there, but it’s pretty rare.
Thompson was fantastic at Brock, winning the league’s top goalie and rookie of the year awards. Thompson turned pro and played a handful of games with Binghamton (AHL) and Adirondack (ECHL). He’d go full-time pro in 2019-20, making his mark as one of the ECHL’s top goaltenders with the South Carolina Stingrays.
Keep in mind, it’s only 2022. In 2020, he was just finishing up his first full ECHL season. Thompson was promoted to the Henderson Golden Knights for the team’s first AHL season, which happened to be the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign. Thompson continued his reign of terror, winning the league’s top goalie award after posting an AHL-leading .943 save percentage. He even saw brief NHL action, stopping both shots sent his way during an eight-minute span in relief against Minnesota on March 10, 2021.
Despite his incredible AHL campaign, he ultimately lost Vegas’ backup role to Laurent Brossoit. Thompson eventually got his first start against Nashville on Jan. 4, before snagging his first win against San Jose more than a month later. Thompson would head back to the AHL for a two-game stint, but the Logan Thompson show was in full effect once Lehner was placed on injured reserve on March 13.
The Golden Knights found themselves on the verge of missing the playoffs with a month still to go in the regular season. They faced a myriad of divisional rivals in games they couldn’t afford to lose and needed near-perfection from a goalie tandem of Thompson and Brossoit. Before too long, Thompson emerged as the No. 1 guy, going on a 9-4-3 run to close out the regular season.
The Golden Knights didn’t make the playoffs, but it wasn’t due to a lack of effort on Thompson’s part. He rarely had an off night and was easily one of Vegas’ top players down the stretch. So when Lehner’s injury was confirmed, all eyes turned to Thompson. And along with Hill, the pair has gotten the job done early on.
To circle back a bit, Thompson’s first NHL start made him the first U Sports alum to do so since George Maneluk (University of Manitoba) started for the New York Islanders on Oct. 28, 1990. Rob Dopson (Laurier) was the last goalie before that to see any action after filling in for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1994.
Last year also saw the start of Zach Sawchenko’s NHL career. The two-year University of Alberta student played in seven games last year with the San Jose Sharks, beating Los Angeles for his first win on March 10, 2022.
Most notable U Sports players go on to play in the ECHL or European pro, but when one makes the NHL – like Thompson – it’s a big deal. Some of the league’s most notable alumni include Derek Ryan, Joel Ward, Steve Rucchin, Cory Cross, P.J. Stock and Stu Grimson.
Now 25, Thompson is starting to find his game at just the right time. He holds an impressive .941 5-on-5 save percentage with a solid 1.93 goals saved above average, both among the best after just over a week of play. That’s hardly a sample size to write home about, but he’s been an integral part of Vegas’ campaign early on, continuing his rush from his late-season play last year.
If Thompson can truly emerge as Vegas’ No. 1 without the team needing to go out and find an expensive replacement, that will be an incredible boost for a Golden Knights team trying to hold on to its competitive window. Being a contender right out of the gate meant making tough sacrifices, and that’s why they’re left in a spot where they’re forced to use a pair of inexperienced backups to fill the role left by Lehner. If Vegas truly had no belief in their goaltending, though, they would have immolated someone else in a trade to address the need.
Thompson has just 23 games of NHL experience to his credit with a 12-6-3 record. It’s too early to judge the type of long-term impact he’ll have, but his road to the NHL is unusual, and tales like his are rare to come by.
Whether the Golden Knights hold a steadfast belief in Thompson or not, who knows. But this gamble has low-risk, high-reward written all over it. Talk about fitting.
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