Logan Thompson was one of the best goalies in the NHL last season, and it’s a scandal that he didn’t get a Vezina nomination.
By the Numbers
.912
Save percentage
58
Games played
188
Opponent xG
140
Opponent goals
+48
GSAx
Saving Diagram by HockeyViz
About this visualization: This image by Micah Blake McCurdy of hockeyviz.com shows how the player has impacted play when on the ice. At the top of the image is the team’s offense (even strength at left, power play at right) and at bottom is the team’s defense (with penalty kill at bottom right). In each case, red/orange blobs mean teams shoot for more from that location on the ice, and blue/purple means less. In general, a good player should have red/orange blobs near the opponent’s net at top, and blue/purple blobs near their own team’s net at bottom. The distributions in middle show how the player compares to league average at individual finishing, setting up teammates to score, and taking and drawing penalties. The number at center is Synthetic Goals: a catch-all number for the player’s impact.
Goalie Metrics by Evolving Hockey
About this player card: This card from Josh and Luke of Evolving Hockey compares the player to league averages based on their impact on on-ice statistics. GAR means “goals above replacement,” where “replacement” means an average player called up from the AHL. xGAR is the same figure but assuming league-average goaltending. The numbers at top are the player’s percentile ranks overall and then for offense and defense alone.
Gratuitous Generative Art by Peter
Peter’s Take
What the hell are we doing, not giving Logan Thompson a Vezina nomination?
- Goals saved above expected: 29.3, 1st place
- All-situation save percentage: 0.912, 2nd place (behind Wedgewood)
- Shutouts: 4, 3rd place (behind Hofer and Sorokin)
Where he fell behind is goals-against average (GAA), which is not a goalie stat! GAA is a team stat, because goalies have no say in how many shots they face – just what portion of those shots they stop. Thompson had a few rough nights: five games with five or more goals-against, all losses. That hurt Thompson’s quality-start percentage, which ranked 10th.
But by most measurements, LT was a top-3 goalie, and that his team missed the playoffs is due to a million factors, none of which include him. Thompson allowed one or none goals 18 times, and the Caps won 17 of ’em.
Here’s a stat no one looks at. Among the top-42 goalies and only during tied-game situations, Thompson had the second best goals-against rate – 2.1 per hour, behind Bussi at 2.0. That’s 17.5 percent better than league average.
I don’t need the GMs to do my weird score-situation spreadsheet trick, but recognizing Thompson’s elite standing as a goalie is a matter of basic hockey literacy. At least Chris Patrick and the Capitals know what they’re doing, having locked his handsome ass down until 2031 at 5.9 million. That’s just over half what Shesterkin gets, 40 percent less than the Vasilevskiy – the Vezina winner – and still less than another 15 guys, including some fellas I wouldn’t let start my Prius, let alone my hockey game.
With all due respect to the GMs who are dumb-dumbs and losers, Thompson is elite.
LT on RMNB
- Before the season began, Carbery made the call: LT is the starter.
- On his reputation: “I’m a player that I don’t think a lot of people respect around the league.” Correct. Remember this for later.
- Tribute to his defenders on his goalie mask.
- Wilson was honored, if bewildered. LT says he’s going to keep it forever.
- Most wins by a Caps goalie through the first 50 games.
- We almost got a goalie fight, dammit. LT spoke about it.
- Protas is giving him Russian lessons. It’s going badly.
- Early frontrunner for Vezina. Remember this for later.
- Carbery on LT vs Jet Greaves: Their guy was f***ing good, but our guy was f***ing better.”
- Upper-body injury at the end of January.
- Tom Wilson was snubbed from LT’s Olympic mask. Feelings were hurt.
- He was willing to take any role with Team Canada, including water boy.
- Jon Cooper didn’t consider playing Thompson in the opener, but he saved 24 of 25 against the Swiss.
- On Wilson’s Olympic Gordie Howe hat trick: “That’s my bestie.”
- Would of won if they played LT more.
- LT was lights-out in a historically long shootout duel.
- Featured in an Apple iPad commercial.
- Ten straight starts by April during that failed playoff push.
- On Ovi’s eventual retirement: “It’s going to be a sad day whenever he decides to hang them up.”
- Remember that stuff from earlier? LT was a Vezina snub. He was left off half the GMs’ ballots. Got votes for Lady Byng though.
Your Turn
Can he repeat?
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