The Vegas Golden Knights traded goaltender Logan Thompson to the Washington Capitals in exchange for two third-round picks — No. 83 overall in 2024 and Washington’s third-round pick in 2025 — on day two of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
Vegas used the No. 83 overall pick to draft Belarusian goaltender Pavel Moysevich.
It was a busy day for the Golden Knights, who made two additional trades, including sending Paul Cotter to New Jersey for goaltender Akira Schmid and forward Alexander Holtz.
Thompson, originally signed by Vegas as an undrafted free agent in 2020, was scheduled to sign autographs at Sphere, the venue hosting the draft; though he was informed of the trade earlier Saturday morning, he attended the signing and continued to meet with Golden Knights fans even after the trade was announced in the arena.
“The fans here are amazing, so definitely gonna miss them, and thankful for everything in my time here in Vegas,” Thompson said.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound native of Calgary, Alberta went 25-14-5 with a 2.70 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and one shutout this past season.
“I’ve never been traded before, in juniors or pro, so a lot of emotions still running through me,” Thompson said. “It’s gonna take a couple days to process. The only thing I’ve ever known in the NHL is the Golden Knights, so it’s gonna be different.”
Thompson finishes his Vegas career with a 56-32-11 record as well as a 2.67 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage and four shutouts. He started the first four games of Vegas’ first-round matchup against Dallas in this year’s postseason, going 2-2; he did not play in the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup run due to injury but went 21-13-3 in 36 starts during the 2022-23 regular season.
The trade was puzzling and unexpected, especially considering Thompson’s progression as well as his team-friendly cap hit of $766,667. He has one year remaining on the deal and will become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2024-25 campaign.
General manager Kelly McCrimmon said that Thompson requested a trade, and that it had been discussed multiple times, including earlier this month.
“Logan had gotten to a point in his career where he felt he needed a change, so he had requested a trade from the organization,” McCrimmon explained. “We accommodated that here today with a trade that we think represents good value for Logan and gives him that opportunity that he was looking for to pick up and begin again elsewhere.”
Thompson was injured during Vegas’ 2023 Stanley Cup run; it was during that run that Adin Hill emerged as the No. 1 goalie by leading the team to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship. “When you win a Stanley Cup with a goaltender, that accomplishment entrenches you pretty well in terms of the eyes of the organization,” McCrimmon said. “And I think for Logan, he feels strongly that he can go somewhere, compete and become that guy.”
He added that this trade was “entirely based on where [Thompson] thinks he’s at professionally. He just wants that chance to be a No. 1 goalie, and that’s really what it came down to.”
When asked, Thompson didn’t confirm or deny if he requested a trade. He indicated that there was “stuff going on, and that’s between [McCrimmon] and the team, and that was through management.”
At the end of the day, two third-round picks is a very light return given Thompson’s contract and the success he has found, but the Golden Knights sent Thompson back to the organization that gave him his start. In 2019-20, Thompson attended Capitals development camp and signed a one-year deal with the Hershey Bears, Washington’s AHL affiliate, though he ultimately reported to the ECHL South Carolina Stingrays. He signed with Vegas the following summer.
“I’m happy to come back to Washington,” Thompson said. “Obviously, that’s kind of where I think my pro career started, and I have a lot of good relationships out there, so I’m excited to come back.”
But to Thompson, Vegas “will always be home.”
“I think I had a good four years. I’m gonna miss it,” Thompson said. “Vegas obviously gave me a chance in the NHL and a chance to be a Stanley Cup champion, so I’ll remember that forever.”
(Photo of Logan Thompson: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)