You never know who is watching.
I would not be at all surprised to learn that Logan Thompson holds that mantra dear when it comes to his hockey career.
His journey to the professional game, earning an entry-level contract and impressing as an AHL rookie has not been the norm we associate with.
Maybe after the last twelve months, we should dispose of ‘the norm.’
However, I digress.
Thompson spent his junior career in the WHL with Brandon Wheat Kings.
In 2015 the Calgary native played the role of back-up behind a championship team and recorded 17 wins despite registering a save percentage under .900.
Thompson would play 95 games in the following two years as a starter posting a combined .908 save percentage over that stretch.
Having gone undrafted, the goaltender opted to take an unusual route but one trodden by a few more players of late – namely Canadian University
Following a strong campaign with Brock University, posting an 18-6 record and .934 save percentage, Thompson signed an amateur try-out contract with the Adirondack Thunder in March 2019.
He played eight games, registering a .918 Sv% despite a losing record but was promptly released in April.
Later that month the Binghamton Devils signed the goaltender to a PTO but gave him one start which proved unsuccessful for both player and team, with Thompson yet again released.
Thompson had however piqued the interest of the Hershey Bears.
Washington’s AHL affiliate penned him to a one-year deal in May but the Canadian goaltender would never receive an invitation to play in Chocolate Town through the 2019-20 season.
Instead, he would spend the entirety of the shortened campaign in the ECHL with South Carolina Stingrays.
Amongst goaltenders to have played a minimum of eighteen games, Thompson ranked second in save percentage (.930), fourth in goals-against average (2.25), fourth in wins (24) and seventh in shutouts (3).
He would also record two assists that year and be involved in a rare occurrence, a goalie fight!
In a feisty affair against Jacksonville Icemen, Thompson dropped the gloves with Michael McNiven and faired well in the tilt.
Though only having forty ECHL games and one start in the AHL on his resume, the Vegas Golden Knights opted to take a chance on the 23 year-old by penning him to a two-year entry-level contract on July 13, 2020.
With this incredible if a slightly unexpected opportunity in his hands, Thompson has made a fantastic beginning to his Vegas career that has turned many heads.
At the time of writing, the rookie goaltender is leading the way in many stats categories and at times has single-handedly propelled the Henderson Silver Knights to victory.
Henderson Silver Knights goaltender Logan Thompson (36) defends against Ontario Reign forward Blaine Byron in the third period of the Silver Knights’ season opener against the Reign at the Orleans Arena Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021.
Through fifteen American Hockey League games, Thompson is ranked first in save percentage (.948), saves (493) and wins (12), and ranked second in goals-against average (1.80).
He’s given up more than two goals on just three occasions and only once recorded a single-game save percentage under .920.
A further breakdown of the goals allowed is even more impressive.
Thompson has allowed just 17 even-strength goals, one short-handed tally and opponents have relied on the power-play for a third of the goals (nine) scored past the Silver Knights netminder.
Is Thompson playing behind one of the best defenses in the AHL and his numbers are inflated?
Hardly.
The goaltender faces around 34 shots per game as an approximate average and those are not just from the perimeter.
A quick perusal of the AHL shot charts shows he’s made a third of his saves this year from shots in the slot area on high danger chances for opponents.
He’s been named the CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month for February and March, and I wouldn’t put it past the 24-year-old to win the award for a third straight time the way he’s begun April.
On March 11, 2021, Thompson made his NHL debut against the Minnesota Wild in relief of Marc-Andre Fleury, playing eight minutes and stopping both shots he faced in a 4–3 loss.
The NHL might be a ways away from the goaltender at this time with Marc-Andre Fleury and Robin Lehner in front of him but when the former’s contract expires in 2022, Thompson seems the heir apparent if he continues on this upward curve.
UK Hockey Blog 