McCrimmon: Knights to start season with Brossoit-Thompson tandem
It doesn't appear the Vegas Golden Knights will bring in any reinforcements between the pipes in the wake of Robin Lehner's season-ending injury.
General manager Kelly McCrimmon said Thursday the club will start the season with a goaltending tandem of Laurent Brossoit and Logan Thompson, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.
McCrimmon added that he's not sure if Brossoit will be ready for opening night as he continues to rehab from a hip injury.
Lehner, who owns a lifetime .917 save percentage, battled multiple injuries last season. Vegas ruled him out for the 2022-23 campaign earlier in August after it was determined that he needs hip surgery.
Brossoit has been a serviceable backup netminder throughout his eight-year career, while Thompson has only appeared in 20 NHL games. Here's a look at both goalies' career stats.
| Goalie | Record | SV% | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brossoit | 42-41-8 | .905 | 2.84 |
| Thompson | 10-5-3 | .914 | 2.68 |
The Golden Knights missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history last season. As a result, Bruce Cassidy was brought in to replace Pete DeBoer as head coach. Due to a lack of cap space, Vegas' most notable offseason transaction was trading Max Pacioretty to the Carolina Hurricanes.
McCrimmon's group is currently $7.2 million over the cap, according to Cap Friendly. However, the Golden Knights can gain up to $5 million in relief once they place Lehner on long-term injured reserve.