Logan Thompson on facing Vegas Golden Knights in first start with Capitals: ‘It’s a lot of mixed feelings, playing against your old team’
ARLINGTON, VA — When Logan Thompson makes his debut in net for the Washington Capitals, he’ll do so against a host of familiar faces. Thompson is set to get his first start of the season on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights, his former team, three months after a draft-day trade sent him to Washington.
As he looks for a fresh start in the District, Thompson acknowledged that a win against the Golden Knights would hold special meaning, though his primary focus is on starting well with his new team.
“You’re always going to be a little extra motivated to play your former team, but I think I’m just excited to get a first game here in the Caps jersey and hopefully help get the guys two points tomorrow,” Thompson said Monday, later noting, “I still think I have a lot more to prove. This is just game one for me here as a Capital, and I’m hoping for many more years to be a Capital.”
Head coach Spencer Carbery reaffirmed Thompson’s enthusiasm for the start, though he pointed out it could swing his performance in either direction.
“I will caution him to channel that because, as we know, once the puck drops, you can be as fired up and excited as you want, but if you don’t have a level head and you’re doing the things necessary that you need to go through your progressions — if you want something so bad, sometimes it goes the other way,” he said. “But he’s the type of guy that he’s a fiery guy and loves to compete, and so this will be no different for him.”
Thompson spent parts of four seasons with the Golden Knights, where he was part of the club’s Stanley Cup-winning squad in 2023, though a lower-body injury kept him out of that postseason run. He represented Vegas as a rookie in the 2023 All-Star Game and later earned eighth place in Calder Trophy voting.
