The Washington Capitals made a bold move when they traded Darcy Kuemper to Los Angeles and brought in Logan Thompson from Vegas. What looked like a depth addition quickly turned into a franchise-changing move, as Thompson emerged as Washington’s new number-one goalie. At just 27 years old, he delivered elite regular-season numbers with a .910 save percentage and a 2.49 goals-against average, then elevated his play in the postseason with the best high-danger save percentage of any playoff goalie. The Capitals didn’t hesitate to lock him up long term, signaling confidence that Thompson is the present and future in net.

Meanwhile, Darcy Kuemper had a late-career resurgence with the Kings, posting Vezina-caliber numbers at 34 years old. His rebound raised questions about whether Washington gave up too soon. But with Kuemper nearing the end of his career and Thompson entering his prime, the Capitals’ front office clearly saw the timeline fit. By acquiring both Thompson and Pierre-Luc Dubois in the deal, Washington set themselves up for years to come. The franchise now has stability in goal and a centerpiece forward, making this one of the smartest moves in recent Capitals history.

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