The Washington Capitals announced Monday that they had locked down goaltender Logan Thompson with a long-term deal, announcing Monday that he had inked a six-year extension worth $5.85 per season.
The contract comes less than a year after Thompson requested a trade out of Vegas and came to the Capitals in a draft-day deal. Now partway through his first season in Washington, he knew he wanted to stick around long term.
“We got [the deal] done pretty quick and finalized it this morning,” Thompson said after Monday’s practice. “Really happy to be here for many more years to come. I’ve loved my time here and just thankful for the opportunity that the Capitals gave me.”
“Obviously, I knew it was a big risk leaving Vegas and what they had going on over there but I just wanted a different opportunity, didn’t really know where I was going to end up, and couldn’t be more happy that I ended up with this organization,” he later added. “Just really thankful for my time here.”
Thompson wasn’t the only one excited about his new contract. Per the Washington Post’s Bailey Johnson, the rest of the team joined in to celebrate Thompson’s deal after the team finished practice in Vancouver on Monday.
Captain Alex Ovechkin praised Thompson’s impact both on and off the ice Monday afternoon, expressing a desire for the team to extend Lindgren as well.
“Happy for him,” he said of Thompson. “Well deserved. He play unbelievable. I hope Chuckie will sign as well because both great guys, great players, and that chemistry we have right now in the locker room you don’t want to change it up.”
Head coach Spencer Carbery highlighted Thompson’s unconventional career path when asked about the extension. Thompson went undrafted and spent time in both Canadian college hockey and the ECHL—including with the Caps-affiliated South Carolina Stingrays—before signing an NHL deal with the Vegas Golden Knights. After meeting him while serving as head coach of the Hershey Bears, Carbery was impressed to see how far Thompson had come.
“Really happy for him and proud of him and what he’s done this year and the impression that he’s made on the organization and how well he’s played,” Carbery said. “Any time inside of the team sport and team setting that an individual is able to accomplish what he’s done and earn a contract like that for the future it’s incredible.
“Especially for his story as well and where he’s come from and I’ve known him for a long time since he came into the organization in South Carolina years ago and to now sign a long-term deal like this and be able to financially look after his family for the foreseeable future, it’s a big deal so happy for him.”
Carbery was also thrilled to see his team’s jubilant reaction once the deal was signed — signaling how a tight-knit group has developed this year despite significant offseason turnover.
“That’s one of the best parts of having team success,” he said. “And all the guys on this team have laid it on the line for Logan and he obviously appreciates that and they appreciate what he’s done and the way that he’s played to help us win hockey games… You think about those [moments] and it creates an attachment as a team to individuals. And when you earn long-term deals like this, guys are happy for one another because you see the fruits of their labor pay off.”
Since arriving in Washington, Thompson has excelled in net, playing alongside Charlie Lindgren to form one of the best goaltending tandems in the NHL. Thompson has put up a record of 22-2-3, 2.09 goals-against average, a .925 save percentage, and two shutouts in 27 games this season. Per MoneyPuck, his 26.8 goals saved above expected ranks just behind Connor Hellebuyck for first in the league.
Ovechkin credited the Capitals’ goaltenders not only for stepping up when needed but also for making life easier for the skaters in front of them.
“We feel confidence that those guys are going to make a save in a huge moment,” he said. “They’re going to keep us in a game. That’s give us an opportunity to be able to stay in the game.”
Thompson has seemingly come into his own this season in Washington and now plays a key role on a contending team atop the NHL standings. And as the spotlight grows brighter and brighter, Thompson has enjoyed every minute of it.
“I think I’m just having a lot of fun and not thinking and just going out there and playing” he said. “It’s kind of been my new mindset this year, and it’s just been a lot of fun and I’m enjoying every minute of it.”
