Following an agonizing road trip that saw the Golden Knights go winless in five games, Pete DeBoer and the VGK coaching staff had a crucial decision to make upon returning home.
Having received below-average goaltending from both Laurent Brossoit and Logan Thompson on the trip, a strong argument could have been made for either goalie to get the call against the Florida Panthers. Vegas ultimately went with Thompson and it paid off with a 5-3 win over the best team in the Eastern Conference.
This is a big win for the goalie deparment. I know I haven’t been great, and every goalie coach in their mom’s basement has let me know that. -Logan Thompson
One such critic, though I’m fairly certain he doesn’t live in his mom’s basement, was DeBoer himself. Following the Columbus game and then again after the loss in Winnipeg, DeBoer did everything but outwardly blame the goaltending for the losses. Here’s one such of those comments.
I thought the guys came and worked their asses off tonight for 60 mins. We’re in that spot where we need everything firing on all cylinders. Our goalie has to be good, special teams, and 5-on-5 all have to be good. If one of those is off we’re not going to win and that’s the case. -DeBoer
So even after a win over Florida, it wasn’t clear Thompson had curried enough favor to hang on to the net for the immediate and/or interim future. That was put to rest with both the decision to start him again against Los Angles and the comments from DeBoer postgame.
On the decision to start (Thompson), it was easy. We have to win games. If you look at our records recently, if you want to play this time of year you have to find a way to win games. -DeBoer
Brossoit had one just one of his previous eight starts, and clearly DeBoer had seen enough. With Robin Lehner remaining on the shelf, he handed the job to Thompson and it appears it’s now his until Lehner is ready to return or he gives DeBoer reason to change his mind.
I’ve said before that starts are hard to come by in this league and for Pete to give me this opportunity, I didn’t want to let him down or let the team down. so it was huge but it’s over now and I’ve just got to keep building from it. -Thompson
Next up for the Golden Knights is a back-to-back in Minnesota and Winnipeg. Normally, Vegas uses both available goalies in two-games-in-two-nights scenarios, but with they haven’t been afraid to run a guy back out in both when the situation calls for it.
Thompson will almost certainly get the first game against the Wild and his performance will likely dictate the starter for the game against the Jets. This is, of course, if there’s not a move involving a goalie before tomorrow’s trade deadline at noon.
No matter how you slice it though, it appears it’s Logan Thompson’s time, and the Golden Knights’ season may rest on how well it goes.
Richie-Rich
Well, McCrimmon liked the kid enough to bring him in from the ECHL. Most goalies that go to the ECHL never get a promotion to the AHL. Thompson’s worked his ass off and McCrimmon gave him the chance in Henderson. The naysayers on this forum wrote his great performance in the shortened season off as a fluke not worthy of an evaluation. Thompson’s performance this year hasn’t been as good, but he has shown signs of being great. He likely needs another year to develop, but he’s definitely getting tested right now.
I think there is great potential there. Thompson needs to take advantage of these opportunities to win the confidence of his coaches and teammates and of the fan base.
George L.
This is very exciting to see. I like his pluck and style.
THE hockey GOD
VGK doesn’t have much of choice, do they ? Organization is backed into corner. And his recent games didn’t inspire much confidence, LT even admitted as much. Stop cherry picking and give the kid a chance !
Their AHL affiliate, HSK, recently picked up another goalie “on loan” from another organization. Not much depth.
LT needs to maintain focus and stay on course.
Look at Toronto, they picked up Seatle’s net minder and didn’t lose a no.1 pick in process.
THE hockey GOD
funny how some posters bash FO in one post, and then praise them in next
THE hockey GOD
The #SeaKraken have a boatload of draft picks over the next 3 drafts:
1st: 3x
2nd: 7x
3rd: 5x
4th: 5x
5th: 3x
6th: 3x
7th: 4x
Thirty (30) total!
They also have not traded away a single draft pick of their own in any of the coming 3 drafts.
And they will remain low in standings , since they have no goalie; which means they will pick high in the draft. They are at least a 8 to 10 years away, unless they go the VGK route and trade the personnel they draft to get better quicker.
I am not in favor of their business model. Drafting for long haul , is roll of the dice.
Howard
Could absolutely be much faster than “8 to 10 years.” Depends how Kraken draft picks work out. As a ‘hockey guy,’ you should know this.
Henderson One
I was at the game on Saturday and thought he performed well. We were sitting across from the net where they defend twice. He was very agile and seemed to be cool under intense pressure. If he develops quickly it does raise into question what to do with Lehner next year.
The REAL TS
I like it. Watching the last 2 games,with Thompson at goal, was reassuring to see. He’s more agile, quick and better with his hands and feet than Lehner or Brossoit. Granted, Lehner is a HUGE( I mean BIG BODY) presence, but slower and awkward. I feel pretty confident that LT can help the team, NOT hurt…and at this point, DO NO HARM is a very positive thing. We just cannot afford mistakes now. Best of luck to him down the stretch!
Pistol Pete
We’ll see if VGK acquires Semyon Varlamov tomorrow. I would not mind seeing Thompson make it as the VGK starter though (Broissoit would remain the backup). Obviously if a new starter is acquired Broissoit is gone and Thompson will be backup.
LVsc
Tampa acquires winger Nick Paul from Ottawa
Toronto acquires dman Mark Giordano and winger Colin Blackwell from Seattle
LA gets dman Troy Stecher
and Van gets dman Travis Dermott
there won’t be anything left tomorrow but table scraps….and the talking heads joking around with each other.
Blitz
Of the 3 goalies I prefer LT’s style. He’s fast and moves well. For entertainment value, I like goalies that move and pop up like he’s on the little blue pill. He’s a little green, and is a rookie, but I like what I have seen so far minus one game. Still trips me out to see left handed goalies, and dueling lefties last game was crazy.
The REAL TS
Blitz, I’m willing to bet that Thompson watched a few MAF videos…his acrobatics are a lot like Fleury’s. And that’s Good with Me!! HE brings a lil excitement to the game!
Blitz
Actually sucks to see Pouliot go on waivers, whether claimed or not. Think he is a better option than Cogs and to be honest I haven’t thought much good of Hague lately. They say Pouliot has been one of the better defenders on HSK and I thought he did just fine for his first 2 games (both wins) in the NHL in almost 3 years. Give him some games, send Cogs down.
The flip side is someone is coming back. Let’s hope it is Mcnabb or Marty.
Blitz
Supposedly they had to waive Pouliot or they lose the option to send him back to AHL this season. Sounds like another lame rule to me, which there are many in hockey, even more in golf.
THE hockey GOD
@Blitz rumor has it, well one rumor of the two posted, that no 14 is ready to return to play.
Blitz
@THG report came out that 14 isn’t on the road trip. They brought Pachel back up. AND it looks like Pouliot is heading to SEA. Not the end of the world, but I felt he was an upgrade to Cogs.
Pistol Pete
Fleury vs. VGK today.
The REAL TS
Gonna be a tough game to watch, if MAF starts. Emotional for the VGK fans AND our team, to be sure. Hope there’s no crying in Hockey, cause MAF is no doubt gonna be a lil shook up…
THE hockey GOD
Marc-Andre Fleury G, Minnesota Wild
Marc-Andre Fleury
The Minnesota Wild have picked up netminder Marc-Andre Fleury in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks will get a conditional second-round pick for Fleury and it would become a first-rounder if the Wild get to the Western Conference Final and Fleury wins four games over the first two rounds. The Wild made a nice trade for themselves as he will likely team up with veteran Cam Talbot for the stretch run. Fleury was 19-21-5 with a 2.95 GAA and a .908 save percentage for Chicago. He will be better with the Wild.
Cam gets start in goal for wild tonight
Pistol Pete
I assumed it would be Fleury. Too quick a turnaround?
THE hockey GOD
Sarah McLellan
@sarah__mclellan
#mnwild coach Dean Evason said Cam Talbot will start tonight vs. #VGK.
8:20 AM · Mar 21, 2022·Twitter Web App
listed is LB as VGK starting goalie, not confirmed by anyone
Tim
Fleury in goal tonight in Minnesota should be interesting. Personally I’ll be pulling for him.
Pistol Pete
I’m not. All that matters is VGK winning every game.
THE hockey GOD
so you are a Wild fan now ?
Blitz
I didn’t think Fleury would be in net tonight, but if he is I don’t fault you one bit. VGK needs wins right now and Flower could give the ultimate F YOU to the FO. Personally I am hoping he is not the starter so I don’t have conflict, because I too would like to say F YOU to the FO.
Pistol Pete
Not me. This FO built one of the best rosters after turning in the best four year start to any NHL franchise. Sure they have made mistakes including probably not the most gracious handling of the Fleury situation or even to do the trade in the first place. Does anyone think Fleury and his agent had no clue the trade was coming? And it was Fleury and his agent who milked a $7m deal out of the FO. Business is business and the VGK decided to make a change. In retrospect the team may have fared better this season with Fleury as Lehner has not worked out. At the time Fleury appeared to be in decline and Lehner was available. Lehner did well in the bubble so for a time it seemed a good move acquiring a younger goalie who showed flashes of brilliance. In retrospect they probably should have stayed with Fleury, let him finish his career here but I can’t fault the FO for making the decision they did at the time. It ended up being a do over but you make the best decision you can at the time. In any case every freakin’ FO in the league is in a better position to make informed decisions than any armchair expert fan including of course yours truly.