The Washington Capitals signed goaltender Logan Thompson to a six-year contract extension worth $35.1 million on Monday, rewarding the young goaltender for a breakout season with his new club.
Washington acquired Thompson in the off-season from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for two third-round draft picks. The 27-year-old ranks third among qualified goaltenders with a .925 save percentage this season and he has an incredible 22-2-3 record across 26 games started.
Thompson’s new deal averages out to $5.85 million annually, which will be the 13th-highest cap hit among goaltenders when the contract begins in 2025-26.
Why are we talking about a goaltender on the Washington Capitals? Well, with Thompson’s contract now signed, it gives Edmonton something to think about with Stuart Skinner’s contract negotiations coming up soon. Skinner has one year left after this season on his bridge contract with a cap hit of $2.6 million before he’s eligible to hit unrestricted free agency.
There’s no chance the Oilers get him at that low of a cap hit again. Does the Thompson deal now set the standard?
Since his contract officially began at the start of the 2023-24 season, Skinner is 34th in save percentage at .904, which is slightly above the league average of 0.902. He’s 16th in goals against average at 2.65 and his 55 wins for the fourth most during that period. He’s also started in 90 games (sixth most) and appeared in 92. Of the other goaltenders that have played more than 92 games over the past season and a half, only Connor Hellebuyck has a better save percentage and goals-against average than Skinner does.
Skinner isn’t close to deserving Hellebuyck money but he’s going to land somewhere in the Thompson range. There have been 17 starting netminders who have signed contracts since Skinner locked in with his hometown on a three-year deal back in December of 2022.
The highest is Igor Shesterkin at $11.5 for eight years, which officially starts next season, and the lowest cap hit is Joonas Korpisalo at $4 million for five years. Korpisalo, now with the backup in Boston, signed that contract as a free agent with the Ottawa Senators.
Igor Shesterkin (28) | $11.5 M x 8 | Dec 6th, 2024 |
Connor Hellebuyck (30) | $8.5 M x 8 | Oct 9th. 2024 |
Jeremy Swayman (25) | $8.25 M x 8 | Oct 6th, 2024 |
Jake Oettinger (25) | $8.25 M x 8 | Oct 17th, 2024 |
Ilya Sorokin (28) | $8.25 M x 8 | July 1st, 2023 |
Linus Ulmark (31) | $8.25 M x 4 | Oct 9th, 204 |
Juuse Saros (29) | $7.74 M x 8 | July 1st, 2024 |
Logan Thompson (28) | $5.85 M x 6 | Jan 27th, 2025 |
Tristan Jarry (28) | $5.38 M x 5 | July 1st, 2023 |
Mackenzie Blackwood (27) | $5.25 M x 5 | Dec 27th, 2024 |
Adin Hill (27) | $4.90 M x 2 | June 30th, 2024 |
Ukko Pekka Luukkonen (25) | $4.75 M x 5 | July 24th, 2024 |
Petr Mrazek (32) | $4.25 M x 2 | Jan 24th, 2024 |
Joonas Korpisalo (29) | $4 M x 5 | Jul 1st, 2024 |
Filip Gustavsson (25) | $3.75 M x 3 | Jul 31st, 2024 |
Samuel Montembeault (26) | $3.15 M x 3 | Dec 1st, 2024 |
Edmonton did a good job of locking Skinner up for the past three years when you consider the contracts Jeremy Swayman and Jake Oettinger received in October. Skinner, who is younger than the two American netminders, is going to be turning 28 in the November of his new contract. With that, the Oilers would’ve lost a couple of years of age value which could knock the value down of Skinner.
Skinner’s next deal is likely going to fall between Juuse Saros and Logan Thompson’s deal. It shouldn’t get as high as Saros but deserves to be more than Thompson, who has only played 130 NHL games and only four times in the postseason. Skinner has the advantage of playing in meaningful playoff games and performing.
The NHL salary cap is going to continue to increase over the next few years. Edmonton does have important contracts coming up with Connor McDavid eligible for negotiations this summer and Evan Bouchard hitting into an RFA summer. Additionally, Mattias Ekholm becomes a free agent in 2026 along with Brett Kulak, Evander Kane, and Adam Henrique. Skinner’s negotiations are going to be a priority.
Skinner has done a good job for the Oilers. He’s helped them get to a Stanley Cup Final, he’s a workhorse goaltender, and he’s consistently available. Skinner’s performances for the remainder of the season and into the postseason. If Skinner can help Edmonton lift Lord Stanley then don’t be surprised if he’s locked up immediately on July 1st.