REPORT: Golden Knights to start season with questionable goaltending duo
The Vegas Golden Knights received terrible news when it was announced that starting goaltender Robin Lehner would miss the entire 2022-23 NHL season after undergoing offseason hip surgery.
Backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit's availability is also uncertain for the start of training camp and the regular season following offseason hip surgery.
With that news, San Jose Hockey Now's Sheng Peng has reported that the Golden Knights are aiming to start next season with the ''less than ideal'' duo of Logan Thompson and Michael Hutchinson.
Thompson took over Vegas' starter's crease at the end of last season and did very well, appearing in 17 games from March 13th to April 29th. In 19 games during the 2021-22 season, the 25-year-old finished with a record of 17-10-5, a GAA of 2.68, a SV% of .914 and one shutout. (He only appeared in one NHL game prior)
Hutchinson, 32, was once an up-and-coming goaltending prospect with the Winnipeg Jets, and his first full NHL season with a 21-10-5 record, a 2.38 GAA, a .914 SV% and two shutouts.
However, since the 2017-18 season, Hutchinson has only appeared in 38 NHL games between the Jets, Panthers, Avalanche and Maple Leafs. He has a career record of 55-55-15, 2.79 GAA, .905 SV% and 6 shutouts.
How will new head coach Bruce Cassidy and his coaching staff handle the early pressure of a young and non-established goaltending duo?
