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Capitals' Logan Thompson Continues Unlikely Vezina Run

Washington Capitals goalie Logan Thompson remains the top challenger for the Vezina Trophy this year.

Jacob Punturi

Mar 11, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) makes a save Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Strome (16) during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
Mar 11, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) makes a save Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Strome (16) during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images / Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
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The Washington Capitals have one of the top goalies in the NHL this year. Logan Thompson is excelling in his first season in Washington, with a 28-4-5 record in 36 starts.

His play is putting the Capitals goalie in the Vezina Trophy conversation. The front-runner is Winnipeg Jets superstar Connor Hellebuyck, and deservedly so with the season he is having. Right on his heels, however, is Thompson. In a recent article from NHL.com writers, they voted Thompson as the third-place winner at this point in the season.

With all due respect, that is a gross undervaluation. Hellebuyck is the top goalie this year, but Thompson's shown he is right there as well. His record is excellent, but it's not just a great team playing in front of him.

So far this season, Thompson has played the best of his career. Even when the defense breaks down in front of him, he holds strong. He has a career best goals-against average of 2.36 and save percentage of .916.

His NHL EDGE advanced statistics paint the same picture. The first quantifier that stands out is his mid-range save percentage, referring to shot attempts in "the area between 29-43 feet of the center of the goal and bound on both sides." He's stopped over 93% of the shots against him in that area, which puts him in the 97th percentile among all NHL goalies this season.

Why that's so important is because the Capitals are excellent at holding shot chances to this area. They defend the center of the ice and in front of the goal extremely well, making it much more difficult to get shots off. The mid-range area is where they surrender the majority of their shots, and Thompson comes up big time and time again.

The other area that sticks out is the number of quality starts Thompson has put together. Quality starts in this case means posting a save percentage greater than 90%. Thompson's achieved that in 61.1% of his starts this season, putting him in the 82nd percentile amongst goalies.

It may not feel so close, but Thompson's season is Vezina Trophy-worthy. The race is a dog fight between elite net minders, but the Capitals' starter should be considered the top challenger to Connor Hellebuyck for this year's top goalie.

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Jacob Punturi
JACOB PUNTURI

Jacob is a featured writer covering the Pittsburgh Steelers for Steelers On SI and the NHL for Breakaway On SI. He also co-hosts the All Steelers Talk podcast. Previous work covering the NHL for Inside the Penguins and The Hockey News.

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