InGoal Radio Episode 289 with Washington Capitals goalie and Vezina Trophy candidate Logan Thompson

Intro

The pre talk going into the episode has been on fire, so I can't wait to see what the guys offer today. It's InGoal Radio, the podcast presented by The Hockey Shop Source for Sports Langley, thehockeyshop.com. Somebody asked me the other day, are those two different operations? That's a good question. Because the way you say it, it sounds like three.

The Hockey Shop Source for Sports Langley, thehockeyshop.com. They're all one operation. They all funnel together. Great people over at the Hockey Shop. You're looking at me weird, Woodley.

A massive operation at that. You're right, though. Like, you do there are so many I don't think people realize just how much stuff is in the back, like how big the warehouse is. Like we see, you know, we know 30,000 plus square feet, we see how big it is, you see the goalie area and how big it is, like pads stacked to the ceiling. But in behind the scenes, the amount of equipment that is back there and the amount of staff required just to sort of ship and sort and get it out the door for the online business.

Like, when we say, if you don't happen to be blessed to live nearby and be able to get there in person, go check it out at the hockeyshop.com. Like, it is a massive part of their business. It is a well run machine, and you should never hesitate to go check them out because they've got lots of new stuff coming in as we as we say all the time, including some of the gear we'll talk about today. So lots going on at the hockey shop, Source for Sports and the hockeyshop.com. We turned that into a read.

We weren't even planning that, boys. So clean.

I told you, you guys

were on fire. You mentioned the warehouse and it is huge. But one of the coolest parts of filming our segments at the Hockey Shop, because you guys you're doing your business. I'm not really needing to pay quite as much attention to the two of you. And you see this steady stream of people come out of the back with order sheets in hand, finding gear on the shelf to pull down and mail off to some really happy lucky customer on the other side of the country.

So it's, yeah, it's pretty fun to see that all happening despite the huge warehouse in the back that we've seen.

Do they have a forklift?

If they do, Cam's not allowed to operate it.

I'd love to work a forklift.

I'm forklift certified. Are you? I we had forklifts when I worked at a paper mill when I was a student, a university student. And, yeah, I used to around in those things with giant, like, stacks of paper and the giant rolls of paper that you put on the machines. Yeah. Absolutely.

Have we got an everything happens to Woody forklift story? There must be one.

No. You know what? I was pretty good on a forklift. I mean, definitely had a few naps out back on the forklift, twelve hour shifts and all. You know, you had to know where to park the forklift so you could sneak in twenty minutes here and there.

Can you tell me how it doesn't tip over? I've always wondered about the physics of it. How doesn't it tip over? Like, if you got a big load on the front.

They got a big weight on the back.

That thing is yeah. The weight on the back is massive and heavy. Like, don't get run over by a forklift. Don't get have your toes front run over by a fork like, be careful around a forklift. Those things are really heavy.

Surprised that didn't happen to you, Woody.

Again, no. That this is one of those few things. I've got some paper mill stories. I still have scars from almost losing a hand at the paper mill, but I definitely have no it everything happens to Woody forklift stories. I was pretty good at that thing.

I I can humm around with on her.

Don't underestimate the the pain of a paper cut, Woody.

No. Don't underestimate the, this paper mill is close, so I'm not gonna get anybody sued when I say this, but don't underestimate the scariness of a pinch point on a drum that's running at 6,000 revolutions per minute just humming paper through and having your operator because there every once in a while, a piece of paper will come floating through the air, and if it trips the sensor, the brakes stop and all the paper blows up and you gotta clean up a mess for an hour and restart the rolls. Don't underestimate the danger of having your operator saying, can you just reach in and try and get that piece of paper out of there and not trip the settings and having your hand almost catch? Knowing that if it had caught fully, have it tear all the skin off the top of your hand. Knowing that if it caught fully, you would have been pulled in that pinch point up to your shoulder and lost your arm. So yeah.

Pretty sure that's a workplace safety issue.

Yeah. But it's not it's not there anymore, so we don't have to worry about any phone calls because that mill's closed.

Well, we've got a open story that keeps developing in the National Hockey League. And one of the craziest when it comes to goaltending this year, Logan Thompson is going to stop by with our feature interview brought to by NHL Sense Arena in just a little bit. And Logan Thompson in the news with a long term extension, Woody.

Yeah. Happened when we were here. So that was kind it was kinda cool right after the interview, like, the day after the interview. And so the downside, folks, is I will warn you, this is not the longest feature interview we've run. The concept was to have a part two on the second day, and then we were interrupted with happy news by Logan Thompson's contract extension.

So everyone in the media wanted to talk to him, and that sort of ruined our little exclusive part two, but that's okay. He was great in part one. He shares a lot of what he sees as the keys to his success in Washington and how they started in Vegas. Some of the things that maybe he was a little, you know, late to put into his game that were sort of being shown to him by Sean Burke in Vegas. So we get into that in the interview, gives you a really good glimpse, Exciting moment for a guy who, you know, was playing Canadian youth sport at Brock University before starting in minor pro and starting his first full season of minor pro in South Carolina, the ECHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals where he built a very good relationship with Scott Murray, who is now the Capital's goaltending coach.

And I do think that relationship has played a key role into how smoothly he has transitioned into Washington in the NHL. I know a lot of people look at the extension. The numbers It's

just it's sooner it's it's longer term than I expected. And and Mackenzie Blackwood got a five year extension after being in the organization ten minutes in in Denver. That that was a a huge contract for a player that hadn't spent a lot of time in within the organization.

And I think there are similarities, Daren. At least from a risk management, let's get this deal done now before it gets too expensive standpoint. Colorado signs Blackwood. They think they've got the right goaltender. They know they have a great defensive team.

He is gonna post numbers there. Let's sign him now before he goes on a nine thirty run for the second half of the season and the price goes through the roof.

And he's not affordable.

Yeah. Exactly. Logan Thompson, I mean, his numbers right now in a not as friendly, like, they give up more quality. They don't give a lot, but they give up a lot of quality. His expected save percentage is in the low eight eighties.

He is outperforming it right now, not just at a he should be in the conversation for the Vezina Trophy pace. But the last time we saw somebody this far above expected on save percentage was the year that people were clamoring for Igor Shesterkin to win the heart trophy. Like, he's almost plus 4% right now. And so, again Can

you put that in context, Woody? What's plus 4% mean for the people who aren't familiar with the stats?

I mean, what's he running on the public numbers right now? Nine twenty nine? So his his expected would be eight eighty. So the 4% is 88%. You're expected to stop 88 based on the shot quality, and you're stopping 92%.

So in his case, if he's nine twenty nine, it'd be eight eighty nine. Like, that's the plus 4%. That's how much the average goalie would stop seeing those shots in the NHL, that quality of shot in the NHL, and he's outperforming it by that much. So, again, the last time we saw this

Right? That's four out of every 100 shots. So that's a goal a game or more.

It's well, I mean, actually, we can look at from a goal saved above expected. So, again, sort of the cumulative version of this, they break it down per a 100 shots. So on a for every 100 shots, he's saving four goals. So, yeah, if you're 3.7 Math teacher. You're right.

It's almost it's almost a goal of game, Hutch. And it's heads and shoulders. It is on a on a per 100 shot basis, it is double what Connor Hellebuyck is doing for the Winnipeg Jets right now. And he's a very worthy Vezina candidate himself. So maybe this is a case of Washington looking at it and seeing, man, if this continues and we want it to continue, this price might just keep going up.

Let's get it done now. And the caveat there, first thing Alex Ovechkin says to us after the contract in the locker room, because I had to get I was there to talk to Logan and ended up helping write that story, the the contract extension story. Ovi says, I hope we get Chucky, Charlie Lindgren, done too because the chemistry in here is very important and their relationship and their chemistry is very important. And we saw Kevin Weekes tweet since then that they're talking about an extension in the 3 and a half to $4,000,000 ranges for Charlie Lindgren. So tandems, those guys have gone back and forth a lot this year, until Charlie got hurt.

They're both having exceptional seasons. Charlie, after a slow start, is really picking up again. He's into the top 25 in adjusted save percentage as well. They've got a great thing going there and it looks like, you know, that was my understanding from being at the rink is that Washington really wanted to keep both of them and was perhaps a little concerned about what it might do to that chemistry to sign one ahead of the other. So I think you can read between the lines.

I think they're confident they might be able to get both done in short order.

Hutch, stick tap to you because you were way ahead of both Woody and I on the four goals above or 4% and then a goal per game.

44% is not that hard, guys. Come on.

No. No. No. You just took a shot at us. I'm gonna give my stick tap back to you.

Four out of a 100. I appreciate the back the

stick tap. No. I'm I already took it back because you made fun of us.

Sorry. Was I was not trying to make fun of you. I was trying to do the old hockey thing. Right? Deflect the praise.

No. Oh, it's not hard.

I just wanna thank my teammates.

In between my time at UBC where I was a statistics statistics major and becoming a journalist, that's where I was working on the forklifts for a couple of years and I lost all the math ability.

Logan Thompson coming up in our Sense Arena feature interview. So we'll hear more about what the South Paw has been able to do in his first year with the Washington Capitals. Marc Andre Fleury goes into Montreal and not only posts a storybook type result with a shout out, but he did it in vintage Marc Andre Fleury style. Like, the we had I call it the fly stack, but the butter stack and and then a diving poke check. Hutch, it it was like a throwback.

It was incredible. How much fun was that? Who's got the guts to even try one of those things once, let alone multiple times? Well, Kochetkov probably. Charlie Lindgren's done a bit of that.

But isn't it so good that that's in the game and what a great way for him to go out? I I know it's not gonna happen, but I saw somebody right today. Wouldn't it be the ultimate Fleury prank if he just decided he's coming back next year after this great tour? Love to see him spend a year in Montreal.

He's he's he's playing good. He's playing good.

Did did you mention, Daren, that's a shout out in his teens, a shout out in his forties. That means he did it in four different decades of his life. Nobody else has done that. Just love it. It's gonna be sad to see him leave the game.

Kochetkov loves the poke check. And he did a diving poke check on the same night. And so I'm going through all the highlights. This this is this really 2025? Or or did I get somehow sucked back and I've got the Internet in in 1998?

Don't tell me goalies are robotic.

Well, hey, listen. They literally sell a t shirt in Carolina called poke Pokechetkov.

I need that t shirt.

I'm not sure he doesn't use it too much though.

Oh, there's definitely I mean, there was a game here in Vancouver where the Canucks were down three one, and he let them back into the game by coming out to the, basically, the top of the circles and giving one up. So and here's the beauty of it. Rod Brind'Amour acknowledged I remember because I covered the game. Rod Brind'Amour acknowledged it postgame, wasn't critical of it, acknowledged that in that moment, it was probably a mistake, but in the same time said, this is the beauty of the kid. Yes.

We have to get to a point where maybe some of the decisions are different, but we don't wanna take this instinct, this natural element of his game completely away from him. Like, we don't wanna turn him into a robot. The skill he brings is a part of what makes him special. And with time, he will learn when and when not to use it. And so I just love that approach.

Like, like, let's not let's it's the let's not remove some of the things that make him special completely. There's risk that comes with it and you have to learn to mitigate that risk in certain moments, like halfway through a third period where you're up three to one.

I saw him stop a rim from the right side and it was even strength though they were they were shorthanded. One of the two. And there wasn't an empty net at the other end. And he took the the rim, stopped it, and then tried to clear it up the middle over everybody. Love it.

And and it got stopped and and there was a great chance on it. But I was like, wow. That that is gutsy.

Yeah. He and he plays with a little bit of reckless abandon. So if you can tune that in a little bit without tuning it out completely Yeah. You know? I I love the approach Carolina's taking with him.

They know it. They're not stupid. They know there are times that cost them. It's just a matter of sort of picking your spots.

Samuel Ersson, named to the Four Nations face off as a replacement for Jacob Markstrom.

Yeah. Tough for Jacob Markstrom who's having a really good season for the New Jersey Devils. It sounds like the news is not terrible four to six, which screams MCL tear of a of a minor variety. And as we know as goaltenders, four to six to return to play, but it can be sometimes up to six months till you feel normal again. I remember having that conversation with Ryan Miller one year.

Feel like it was about this time where he heard it, was back in time for the playoffs, but didn't feel like himself to July. So that's the reality. Sucks. I look at the play, and I just see guys going to the net hard. We've had a you know, this is probably another topic for another day, but, you you know, we've had a couple goals called back where people get mad because it's like, oh, you got pushed in or whatever.

And and the ruling was if you're headed to the crease, I kinda look at it like this. If you're going into the blue, it's on you. And I think some of the going into the blue with reckless abandon, I get it. It has to happen. You're trying to score goals.

Everybody's encouraging it. But I look at what happened to Marks from there, and I feel like that's that's the consequence of it. And I just I not to go goalie union on you here, but I just I I do wonder if we're protecting these guys enough.

Protect the quarterback, protect the goalie, protect

the I feel like we're seeing more guys take it hard to the net, and if they get the call going their way, it's a bonus. And if they don't, at least they they've pushed the envelope. I I feel like we're edging back towards that.

This is why dude. We're gonna start a I'm gonna I'm gonna take a deep breath. This is why they needed in the first place to call the bloody penalties for goalie interference rather than just add the reviews that take goals off the board. Because if you're going to the net, you cause a goal, and you lose it, okay, that's tough. But if you start call if you're proactive and call the it's if GoToTheBlue, it's on you, and you make contact with the goalie, like, number this is this predates

Why don't they call a penalty there?

This predates because they don't wanna call a penalty. The I mean, it would get you more offense. This predates the rules in the video review. I remember having this conversation with goalies all around the league and the frustration they would say, they would get bumped. It would be enough contact that it could have harmed them, and the referee will say, well, if the puck had gone in, I wouldn't have allowed the goal.

Well, it's still a freaking penalty. If it's enough to call back a goal, it's enough to call a penalty. And they just they don't wanna discourage guys going to the net because that's where a lot of offense comes from, and it's exciting, but it's at the risk of health. And I know the Markstrom example is just, know, that's the first one we've seen in a while. But when I see like, we had one in Vancouver the other day where they called the goal back where where Hughes clearly pushed the guy, and that led to the contact with Lankinen, but the guy was clearly going through the blue.

It was the Saint Louis game. It might have been Robert Thomas. He was clearly going to the blue before he got pushed. Lankinen was deep, so maybe he can go through the blue and not clip Lankin in before the push, but they took back the goal anyways, and everyone lost their mind. And I was like, good.

Because he was gonna cut through the blue. And whether he hits Lankinen and only because of the push or not, if you're going into the blue ice, this is the risk you take. And I think if they establish that more firmly because on the same night, I saw another goal with contact in the blue that counted. If you establish it firmly and consistently and in a perfect world start calling penalties on guys, that's the only way you change the behavior. You can't change the behavior by taking away the odd goal.

You can only change the behavior by actually penalizing the guys that are making contact with the goalies.

It's interesting you say that. I was talking to my kid after one of his games couple months ago, had been a ton of traffic. And he said the referee came up to a mid game and said, don't worry, Hutch. I got you here. It's not to the level of calling a penalty, but if the puck goes in, it won't be a goal.

So it's exactly what you were saying. There's a conscious and granted it's junior, not the NHL, but they try and have similar standards for officiating in those two leagues. So

And to me, the difference is battling in front of the net and little bumps versus the plays that Daren's talking about, and this would be the Robert Thomas example, cutting through the blue with speed, going to the net, and hitting the goaltender with speed. Like, to me, battles, when a puck's at the point or moving around in in zone play and there's a little contact with the stick or the blocker or whatever, I'm that's not gonna injure a goalie. It's driving through the blue and making contact is where you get these injuries. And, again, I mean, the NHL could point to the fact that is the only one that's gotten hurt this year, and and I guess we could we could live with that. But

There is the there is the point in the rules, which I don't think gets talked about enough, that difference between incidental contact and intentional contact. And incidental contact can result in a goal being called back even though it's not necessarily a penalty.

Well, intentional. If you go through the blue and you make contact with a goal Well, that's

intentional. Of course,

it is. Whether you No.

Like, I'm not disagreeing with you.

They prefer to do that as

incidental all the time.

All the time. That's what I mean. And which means you're allowed to go in there. And and you are. And that's and again, that's the problem.

And here's the other thing. A goalie is gonna be called out by his coach, not publicly, but the coach is gonna roll his eyes when a goalie doesn't make a save in that situation, even if there's not contact because he's slightly distracted or is protective of himself. And then the puck goes in and that's not really right either.

No. Yeah. That I mean, like at the NHL, there's you're not supposed to have that flinch element, I guess. But No. Somebody comes barreling in there.

I mean, Mark's g Marky puts his leg out there and makes a save and gets gets hurt because the skates outside the post and the guy goes in full force into the knee. Right? Now I I I like, I should be careful here. I haven't looked at that play beyond the contact. Did the guy driving the net get tripped?

So I should be really careful here how far I go down this road. But I just think and then you can go back and listen to what I said when they brought in the video review. Like, they should have just start I knew goals would come off the board. It was predictable. It was easy.

They've since amended it. And I think in doing so, allowed more contact than we had before the video review came in. More incidental contact.

On the bumps and the the traffic in front, goalie interference calls, the the line is, was the goaltender allowed to make the safe? And when a player's cutting in hard like that and going through the blue, I think there's a lot of question whether a goaltender's allowed to make the save or be permitted to make his regular save selection because he's worried about being run over.

Which is why I love the call in the St Louis Vancouver game. I just don't see consistency of application because in another game, a guy went in, made contact, and the goal counted. So

But I don't

like are the ones that are dangerous.

I don't like that all these reviews require the coach initiating them too because there's such a risk there. You've now given up a goal and you could end up on the penalty kill. It could turn into two goals.

They did in that game for St Louis. They they challenged the ruling. There's not

that many goals in the National Hockey League. Could could the NHL not just review every goal?

Here's the other part though.

Two minutes.

If you just call more penalties on guys going into the crease, you will reduce the behavior and get more power plays, which will ultimately lead to more goals.

True. But to your point, Daren, I hate that reviews are so long. I just I wish every review in the National Hockey League had a time limit on it. You got thirty seconds. If it's not clear, it's not clear.

Move on.

Then then it just stands with the call on the ice.

Yeah. Because Yeah. You know, like, the off side is the the obvious one because it was instituted because of a gross mistake. So let's just keep it so it's only there for big mistakes by limiting the time.

I don't know whether it's just this year because I've been more aware of it, but the plays that are wiping off goals because of offside have have resulted in some great celebrations where the teammates are all coming into the goal scorer, and the goal scorer is like, I was offside. And they don't really wanna celebrate because fine. They Yeah. Yeah. Know it's it's coming off the board.

It's it's been pretty funny in a couple of occasions. 100%. Able to watch it. We've got our Vizual Edge ProReads coming up. The NHL Sense Arena feature interview.

Gear

Parent talk sponsored by Stop It Goaltending U, the app. But right now, from our friends over at the Hockey Shop Source for Sports Langley, the hockeyshop.com, our Gear Segment, looking into the True Catalyst PX5 pads.

Yeah. And not a not a there's some new things here. There's some carryovers. There's some delineation between the lines that we need to get into. And to be honest, not an expert myself.

This is not equipment they've sent us to to test here at InGoal. So let's go to Cam because he's got all the answers.

Welcome back to The Hockey Shop Source for Sports. We're in Goal Utopia surrounded by all the latest and greatest. That's true. True. Look at you puns for days.

The new Catalyst PX5.

A truly cool thing to talk about.

It's like Christmas in January outside of your puns, which are pathetic. It's That's alliteration. True?

PX5. Go. Alright. Well, let's talk about things.

Somewhere else. Go.

That's goal. Go. Let's talk about the slide service right off the bat because everyone wants to know more about Diamond Glide.

I saw I saw this the other day. Juuse Saros was in town. I was looking at his pads, I saw this logo. And I gotta be honest because I wasn't up to date. I hadn't come to see you yet.

I didn't know what it was. So he obviously has Diamond Light on his new set.

Yeah. Was about to say, but let's take a giant step back there. Like, there's a pro wearing the Diamond Glide, not just one. Looking into it a little bit further, so Fast Glide, which we've seen on the customizer before, we saw in some of their stock pads as well. Not as overly well received.

Okay. Let's relook at this. Let's come up with something a little bit better.

Diamond Glide. Diamond So if you told me,

I could have asked Juuse I I But instead, I was just left to look at the logo and not know what it was all about.

Missed opportunity. Missed opportunity. But now that we have it in front of us

It's okay. I'll text him later.

You should.

You should. We can get a little bit of a spice in for some, you know, pro iteration. So what is it? Almost like an enhanced textured wheat. I think it's the best feel.

You can get that same kind of weave sound out of it. I

like it.

Yeah. You hear that? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. So in terms of overall feel wise, there's almost a slickness to it as well. So it feels like it has, like, a slick coating to it as well.

It feels like it's gonna oh, so here's my question. Is it a coating?

Do you know? I don't believe so. I believe that's the

actual material. The because the coating would worry me a little bit because coatings wear

off. Exactly.

But this is just the material. It is quite slick.

I like it. Exactly. So in terms of for, like, that actual siding, we'll see if we can get some pro insight into it from our guy here, the insider, Kevin, inside every NHL locker room as proclaimed by himself. K. What else is different about this pad?

So we've seen some of the things that are on the Hzrdus pad kind of trickle their way over onto the catalyst, and those things are? That thigh in particular. So we already seen that thinned out thigh in the p x three. How it actually tapers up and into that thigh position itself is now the exact same as what you find on the PX four cap wrap. So their fast rotation system still remains.

However, the cut of this is now the exact same that you would find on that PX 4 pad.

And the difference from the previous generation of Catalyst in that cut?

You still have this side coming lower, but this side now comes up a little bit higher.

There you go. Just for people that weren't aware.

Correct. Overall, continues that great on feel.

Still got the pillow.

Integrated pillow itself. I mean, the reception of the fast rotation system has always been very, very good. You're getting an extreme connection out of that pad, not losing any control or anything like that. It does as advertised fast rotation.

Yes. And at the NHL level, as you said, a lot of great feedback.

Exactly. So still similar homework of that, the Fav style and knee stack, not too much different here. Something that we've just

A little more wiggle room than we see in other brands for sure, you can see it's almost offset inside out of the box, which means it's harder to push it past straight, is what you don't want as if walking down

and out. Exactly. Exactly. We don't want that knee cradle sitting 90 degrees from the pad itself.

So Still not integrated into the face as we've seen a lot of brands No. Go towards.

Nice soft boot. Again, this is a spec that we chose in terms of for ordering our stock ones in. This is what we consider a stock pad itself. Again, still soft boot construction, single break at the knee, still stiff upper thigh portion.

Again, that's got flex at the knee, but you're right.

Hallmark of that thin style of pad, you need to have that stiff upper because you don't want any of those trapdoor style goals to it. So overall, like, still maintain a little bit of that high ready feel, but, know, again, we've still kind of gone into that what is a modern hybrid pad of that, you know, stiff upper thigh.

Cut your knee strap. Again, keep it down price style or removable knee flap. Again, we're seeing more and more NHL guys at the high level go back to this as opposed to down the old carry price style.

Boot. Flat boot construction. We've seen this before. This is nothing new for true. Nice open, allowing that skate to drop out of

the pack. It's not totally flat. There is a little bit of a There's a shell there. Enough to sizing at all?

No. No. Not enough. Like, we're talking at the most minute level. So, yes, it might center the pad on you a little bit more as you go to go get back up and recover.

But that says in terms of, like, it's a sizing aspect, this still size is true to their other pads.

Oh, you did it again.

I know. We still like the Hybrid Pro Lace in particular. Not a fan of their Push Lace, which is the lace with the integrated bungee at the very end sort of thing. Do like this system a little bit more? Or if you don't like this, just switch to skate laces.

Easy to swap out. That's just screwed up at the front. Again, I have great overall addition. We chose all white. On some of the other pads that we've got coming in, we shot the graphic a little bit better.

Almost if you kinda look at it nearly, maybe if I rotate it, maybe maybe a p x three graphic just laid down?

I don't know. It's got a diamond shape for Diamond Glide maybe.

Oh. If you have more questions about it, you can give me a call at (604) 589-8299 or 1-800-567-7790.

Of course, full customization. You can order this one full custom. Yes. Hit up Cam, find out what options are there, what your options are, sizing, fit. They've got your answers here at The Hockey Shop Sense.

Call them or check out the website at thehockeyshop.com. The new True Catalyst PX five with the new Diamond Glide sliding surface. Another innovation, another step from True.

What was your first takeaway from the PX5?

Probably the new material, the Diamond Glide, which we talked about and that, you know, again, haven't had a chance to test it, but I'd seen sort of that logo, that diamond logo on as I mentioned in the video on Saros' pads just a little while ago or mentioned in the segment on Saros' pads just a little while ago. So that was probably the one thing that jumped out at me. You know, they they continue to evolve and and sort of make subtle changes to to each line, but I think that's a that's a big one because the previous versions of slide material hadn't had had received some critical feedback from people that that had ordered it, and it sounds like this is a is a is an important upgrade.

How much faster is the slide now compared to ten years ago?

Oh, that's a really good question.

Like, you took the same pad from now to ten years ago, same manufacturer and put it out there, and it'd be funny to see how much farther you could slide across the We

could certainly do that with some stuff, but I have a different question. Okay. How much less important is the slide today compared to ten years ago?

There's that too. I would say so two things here. That's a good question too, Hutch. I would say, Daren, it's not just the materials. Manufacturers have done a good job of finding ways to have sort of less contact point between the material on the and the ice.

They're finding ways to sort of have, you know, and different harder materials from different manufacturers are definitely a role, but also the way they're they're setting up the inner calf wrap area with some plates and sort of not just having a flat surface that all of it, you know, causes friction on the ice. There's that. And to Hutch's point, you're right. Like, I mean, everything's That's probably

more important. Hutch's evaluation of it.

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, outside of post to post out of a reverse, like, I mean, yeah, we don't see as much we it it is interesting. Right? Kids fall in love with sliding, and we talk about sliding, but a lot of a lot of everything is about beating it on your skates these days.

You don't see a lot of guys sliding into saves anymore except in the in tight stuff where I doubt that that increased sliding ability is gonna make a huge difference going post to post. Now if you've got a kid who's six or seven years old who doesn't have the leg strength to make it make it move, I guess these sort of things would would matter to a young kid, but I think less and less at the high levels.

Or four five plus. You do sometimes

someone Sorry. Sorry. Older beer leaguers as well.

But doesn't some of the old stuff feel sticky almost? You know, like when you have you tried, like, old pads and it almost feels sticky out there as opposed to some of the new materials? I

find as I do my parents segments that they could basically be beer leaguer segments too. You know? Yeah. Well, you just you just described it. I just said the sliding ability matters for the young kids.

You said also the older guys. As I was doing my parent segment for this week, the top five annoyances, most of those apply to beer leaguers as well. It's a

It's a reflection of life. Right? Our parents take care of us for a little life. By the end, we're taking care of them.

Men's league or recreational league, men and women, we're about probably six, seven years behind in the ability to use these save selections. By the time it it gets hot and we watch it and then we adopt it to our game and we're able to really utilize it in our game, there there's multiple years in there.

Daren, I want you to get the GoPro behind the net for your next game, and I wanna see a fly stack.

That would be awesome.

If you could do that, we would sincerely appreciate it.

I watched that fly stack, not a word of a lie, probably 20 times.

Hey. It's a butter stack, boy. It's a butter stack. Credit to Paul Campbell for coining the phrase.

No. To me, like, the butter stack was sliding in the butterfly and then slid into a stack. Whereas in this one, he was more stationary.

He was stationary.

Just looked over. So I think it's I think it's a fly stack. I think Okay. Daren can have a term too.

Daren gets his own term. Now he has now he has to Thank you. Now he has to demonstrate it.

Thank you. Well, I'm I'm I'll just show it to Hutch on his own because you didn't believe in me enough.

Okay. I didn't believe I hey. Listen. Hutch and I are friends again

Speaking of like, shorter distances to travel and not needing to slide, that's another reminder to stick around for our Logan Thompson discussion on the feature interview because we get into that and how that's a big part of his game right now.

One note on the Gear Segment this week, people looking for the video.

Yeah. It's gonna be a some technical difficulties, and, the Gear Segment on video will be about a week behind and might have some differences. We'll just leave it at that.

Well, it's stuck in editing. That's all.

Yeah. But you're actually probably gonna get an enhanced version next week because of these technical difficulties. So think of it as a bonus.

Well, actually, you will get an enhanced version because we'll be able to talk about the new padding they're offering on the blocker to sort of change the blocker handle true. Which is a part of but we

That is true.

When we recorded the PX5 video, Daren, they hadn't announced that. And sadly for the retailers, the retailers didn't know it was coming, so all their inventory was ordered without it. But it is a new option that sort of changes the way the blocker sits on the hand relative to the hand and changes the angle of the blocker as in terms of how it presents to the shooter. And so we can get into that with Cam when we rerecord the segment for the video.

Can you expand on that just a little bit, like 20%, the advantage of the way it hit stands on the on the hand, or I guess we should just wait until we we can do it all together because then it really does it makes it easier to translate those those advancements on the blocker. But anything to the blocker, like furthering that piece of equipment, they're they're so the steps are so small, and I get excited about it because

Gotta get rid of that stigma. A blocker is not just a blocker.

But it is.

That's always nice to see somebody innovate within blockers. It's not, Daren. Like, it's not like because and I actually think there may be a relation here between the adaptation in this new PX 5 and the and the new option and this decision. But, you know, blocker is not just a blocker, just ask Joey Daccord. Right?

Who is wearing a Bauer blocker with his true setup because of the differences in terms of the way pucks come off of it. And I know that one of the things that that he wanted out of it was to prevent the pucks hitting the top of the blocker board and riding over, like they did with the true. And they didn't have that option at True this summer. But with this change, they've got an option that sort of would help prevent that. So, innovation is a good thing.

I love it.

Parent Playbook

Parent segment sponsored by Stop It Goaltending U, the app. Top five annoyances for goalie parents. We'll get into that. But first, message from our friend to Stop It Goaltending.

Stop It Goaltending U. The app is the best place for you to develop your game online tool, whether you wanna do a minute a day with their daily primers, five minutes heading into the weekend. They've got drills. They've got tips. They've got video breakdowns of NHL goalies that you can learn from.

They've got a little bit of everything. All twenty five years of their experience led by Brian Daccord, who's coached at the National Hockey League level, been a director at the National Hockey League level, whose son Joey, we just mentioned, plays in the National Hockey League, coach lots of National Hockey Leaguers, all the that experience, him, his coaching staff, everything rolled in this to the Stop It Goaltending U app. And, of course, the best part, well, in our minds, we're biased. The best part of the Stop It Goaltending U app, every subscription comes with a free subscription to InGoal Magazine premium, so you get the both best of both worlds. In the goaltending world, all the information we provide weekly with all the information they provide weekly, whether it's a deep dive or a quick hit each day to to gradually improve, you become a better goaltending through the Stop It Goaltending U app.

Impressive. You kept the top five annoyances for goalie parents to five.

Well, I could have gone further, but, I sort of tried to summarize, what people have put together. We we talked about one of these and then I put it out to a Facebook parent group and I said, tell me your annoyances as goalie parents. There were over 200 comments posted by goalie parents about this and then just tried to summarize it into the top ones. This is not a scientific poll. Somebody actually asked me why I wasn't conducting a poll, and the answer was I wanted to hear what everybody had to say and not just sort of stack my reasons.

But I do want to acknowledge that last week I said, I gave you guys some homework and we were gonna come back with some more stuff on warm ups, but this one had been left for a couple of weeks. And I feel like I owe it to the parents to come back to this one, and we will get back to warm ups in the next week or two. So top five annoyances from goalie parents. As I said, some of these probably fit for, you two guys in recreational hockey because the number one that came up was head high shots in warm up. And along with that, people, parents feel that the warm up is about preparing the goalie for the game, not rattling their confidence or maybe even injuring them.

But too often, players treat warm up as a shooting contest firing head high slap shots instead of helping their goalie get ready. We did address this in a previous segment a little bit. I do agree and understand that this is frustrating for parents. I mentioned that I think we do need to have room for the players to be able to shoot to score, as I said last week. But, you know, the other thing I think we have to consider here, guys, and this also applies to your beer league buddies, I remember my son telling me one time, I think he was in U15.

He told me that the guy who shot he feared the most was actually on his team despite the fact that he was practicing quite regularly at the Junior A level. And I asked him why, and he said, because I don't know where it's going, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't know where it's going either. And, I think the thing is you gotta get to a pretty decent level of hockey before kids have control over those shots if it ever happens. And, and I think while we can encourage kids to be careful during the warm up, I think we need to understand that they're still learning too. So we need to invest in a good helmet for our kids.

K. Number two, lack of goalie coaching at practices. Probably close to being number one here. One of the biggest frustrations of parents was the lack of dedicated goalie coaching during team practices. Many of the goalies are left to fend for themselves acting as little more than targets while their teammates work on drills.

This often forces families to seek out private coaching and, of course, that adds more costs and more time. This one came up a lot as I said. And the thing that was sad about it guys was that what came along with it a lot was about their their kids not liking the game anymore, not wanting to go to the rink, not wanting to play. And, we said it here a million times before that we need more people who can support our goalies. I spoke to one association recently, and they told me it's actually mandatory for one coach on every team, to have the Hockey Canada course if they wanna be coaching.

That's the goaltending course. So so I think that's really nice. It's a start. But I would say, especially if you have a younger goalie, please consider taking that course or the USA hockey course yourself and volunteering to help out. I'm gonna have more on that in a segment that I prepared on coaching your own child that'll be in the next few weeks as well.

K. Third one, guys, was blame from teammates and other parents. It's a team game, but goalies often hear the brunt of the blame after a loss. Parents feel that whether it might be the teammates pointing the finger in the locker room or other parents in the stands saying my kid would have stopped that, The pressure on young goalies can be overwhelming. I agree with you a 100%.

The pressure and blame on a goalie can be brutal. It's one of the toughest position in sport as a youngster, especially. I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but we need to be better.

Just a note on that. Yes. Parents are more sensitive to that than the actual goaltender.

I disagree. Yeah. I disagree. I I I think maybe in terms of that individual game, but I think it's that death by a thousand cuts builds up over time, puts those questions in the back of your mind during a game.

Goalie goalies take it upon themselves. They they they know when they've screwed up, and maybe they can feel a little bit of the eyes flare.

So don't so don't pile on. So don't pile on. You know?

But parents parents definitely feel a little bit.

Alright. I'm sure we see we see things differently. We definitely do. But but look, we're trying to make the game more fun, so let's make it a little easier for the goalies out there. Number four came up in today's show.

I know it happens in beer league too. Unnecessary roughness after the whistle. See few things seem to frustrate the goalie parents more than watching players repeatedly jabbing at their stick or their pad or whatever after the puck is covered. Woody talked about guys coming into the crease and and the referees let it slide too much despite the worries parents have about injury potential. I might suggest, Daren, that I think this is when the parents feel more even than the goalies feel, because they get really upset when they see somebody jabbing at the kid's glove or whatever.

And I did do a segment on this already, but I think as parents, we need to lead here and try and teach our kids not to get upset by this. They will reflect your feelings if you're too, vocal about it. It's not gonna get better. If you watch a junior game, if you heard us talk about the NHL game today, you know it just keeps happening all the way up. And I do agree with the especially with the younger kids, we need to protect them, but we need to help them learn to cope with a situation that is not gonna change, Woody.

All the way to beer league. I have a broken finger from somebody who thought that, they had the right to that puck that was already long since under my glove.

And that's the NHL influence. Because the puck goes to the goalie. They they're taught to whack until the whistle goes.

100%. Yeah. It's tough. And then the last one, number five, was last minute starting decisions on who's gonna be playing that game. Parents tell me, they think that con confidence in preparation is really important for the their goaltenders and too many coaches are announcing who's starting a game in some cases until after the warm up even, guys.

Kids are finding

out That's silly.

Yeah. That's crazy. But here's why I think it's crazy. Because we're talking about minor hockey here. They should be sharing the net.

They should be having equal number of starts. So I don't get why you can't come up with a schedule. It just doesn't make any sense to me at all. Guys, I know of one NHL team who knows a month in advance which goalie is playing which game. They have a plan in place for a full month.

So I am sure a minor hockey organization could figure this out. Come on coaches, you gotta do better. But, you know, I don't think this is really so much an issue of having time to mentally prepare. I mean, you've gotta be ready to come into a game mid game if something happens, whether it's an injury or a pull. You can learn to be ready.

But guys, can you imagine taking your 12 year old to the rink after they spent all week excited about the game coming up, the game they love to play, and they don't even know if they're gonna get to play that week? You just have to arrive at the rink and maybe you get to play, maybe you get to sit on the bench. Find out when you get there. That what talk about a rug pull.

But guys, can you imagine taking your 12 year old to the rink after they spent all week excited about the game coming up, the game they love to play, and they don't even know if they're gonna get to play that week? You just have to arrive at the rink and maybe you get to play, maybe you get to sit on the bench. Find out when you get there. That what talk about a rug pull.

Well, Steve Thompson told us in our bronze level course, there are other sports that see what we do to goalies in that exact regard and the phrase they use is abuse.

100%. So coaches, sort that one out. That is dead easy to sort out. At the end of the day, we want our kids to love being goalies. It's an incredible position that builds resilience, leadership, mental toughness, but it should also be fun.

when this all adds up, some kids start questioning whether they want to stay in net at all. If we want to attract and keep more young goalies, we need to address these issues. We need to create a more supportive environment and remind everyone from players to coaches to parents that goalies aren't just targets. They're a vital part of the game, and we all deserve the same respect, preparation, and development as everybody else on the ice.

And unfortunately, challenges like all of these we've been talking about that parents have identified for us are making it harder for goalies to enjoy playing the game. And when this all adds up, some kids start questioning whether they want to stay in net at all. If we want to attract and keep more young goalies, we need to address these issues. We need to create a more supportive environment and remind everyone from players to coaches to parents that goalies aren't just targets. They're a vital part of the game, and we all deserve the same respect, preparation, and development as everybody else on the ice.

Well said, Hutch. I I I think I got something for you for this one when you post it. I think I found video of Jacob Markstrom's warm up. We're talking about him earlier where it was a new shooter. And as he gets after he does the blocker and the glove, he's tapping his head, like, shoot it up at my head.

We've talked about this before. Like Markstrom

as active. Well. Yep. Nice.

Goaltenders would like as much notice as possible when they're gonna play. Parents, the goalie, the child, obviously. If if the coach wants to leave it to give himself enough flexibility for whatever reason, I'm not I don't agree with it, but they they wanna leave it to a last possible moment. What's what's an appropriate time? Is it two days?

Is it the last practice before, a game?

I think that's very common. Either the last practice before or the day before when you get to the junior hockey level. But again, it shouldn't be an issue because they're kids. Right. It should be easy to do.

No. It should.

It You know, this is a parent This isn't this isn't how to coach NCAA in junior hockey where I know things are a little bit different. Yeah. I I don't understand. I don't understand why you

need I got good news for for everybody, though. What's that? When you do get to the recreational level You know. You know. You know who's starting every game, and it's really good news because there's only one of you.

Well, maybe not for my teammates, but yes.

Yeah. Going back to the parent side of this because so often I hear people say you have to have two goalies on a team because what if one gets hurt? Many times have you guys played recreational hockey and not being able to have a game finish because the other goalie got hurt?

I was gonna take a different route and go imagine if if recreational leagues decided we we wanna have two goalies.

Oh, I quit

I Who's put signing up for that?

You can't even find one half the time. I can play every single night if I answer.

That's actually a great perspective.

Hey. Nobody's signing up for that. So

So good.

To to back up on on your 08:00 game.

Yeah. Hey. Can you come out at 09:45? We need a backup goaltender. 09:45 on a Tuesday night.

We really need you. We really need you. Please come out and play. Yeah. Yeah.

We need somebody to sit on the bench and and open the door.

Or or even not that. Hey, can you please come out at 09:45? We'll tell you when you get there if you're gonna play.

Yeah. Yeah. That's that's the best. Yeah. That's it's insane.

It's nuts.

I'm pretty sure where where the decision would lie. I don't need somebody to slip me a note.

I love that you put it in adult context. I think all the coaches should consider if they were playing recklessly, what would they want?

ProReads brought to you by Vizual Edge. We've we're seeing double this week. This this is cool. We got a pair of ProReads, from our friends at Vizual Edge.

Yeah. We've got a Vizual Edge user in Joseph Woll who walked us through rotate before reach technique in desperation. It's funny. You know? We talk about abandoning technique, and sometimes you just gotta open the car doors, goalie nine one one, you just gotta go make desperate saves, and that's true.

But there are moments where the start, the trigger, the rotation so that the desperation is pointed in the right direction is also important. And so Joseph Woll, who as we said, is a Vizual Edge user, he walked us through that one. And then we've also got another one from Alex Lyon this week, sponsored by Vizual Edge ProReads, where he talks about taking control of down low situations. It's one where he talks about reverse VH in tight. But in a situation where somebody might be like, hey.

There's passing options here. Why are you in reverse VH? Why aren't you hedging towards the pass? Because sometimes it's important to eliminate one of the options. So Alex walked us through, and Alex is so good about walking through the psychology of the game and the psychology of shooters.

He also has a key there on sort of pulling the knee in before you make that push and how it loads in more power. So all of that in our latest ProReads brought to you by Vizual Edge. It makes sense that Vizual Edge would sponsor our ProReads segment. ProReads are all about NHL goalies helping you see the game better, and Vizual Edge helps goalies right up to the NHL see the puck better and therefore see the game better. There's some exciting updates at Vizual Edge this month.

They're rather than the old system where it was two, three, six, and twelve month packages, you now have options where you can either go for a full year or you can just pay by the month and go month at a time. And, of course, using the code InGoal, you will get a discount on both options. Our members are premium members. Make sure you log in to ProReads to get the exclusive discount, a bigger discount as a member of InGoal premium. So discounts either way, if you're not a member of InGoal premium, I would ask why not.

If you are, bigger discount, either way you're saving money on Vizual Edge, a training tool that also helps you for cognitive and get better vision on the puck. Vizual Edge right up to NHL with guys like Joseph Woll and Cam Talbot, who we're going to be talking to next week for both ProReads and the podcast.

Vizual Edge. What's that?

I was just gonna say I was reading a story today about Cam Talbot having because we were talking about warm ups before. Having a stop bouncing a ball before a game and using visual edge, that's, how vital it is for him.

Those walls are appreciated. Yeah. And the arena managers who don't make the type fun. You're right. For sure, the arena manager.

Wanna We'll

play hockey in the arena.

Feature Interview - Logan Thompson

Vizual Edge ProReads. We're seeing double this week, so it's fun. Enjoy it. Let's get into our NHL Sense Arena feature interview. And I've I've been waiting for this guest to to have a connection with Kevin Woodley, and this is the perfect time as Logan Thompson having the best career of his NHL life with the Washington Capitals.

And but there's some some carryover from his time with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Yeah. He credits some of the changes he made perhaps late in his career with the Vegas Golden Knights. And so we get into that a little bit, try and talk about what's worked so well in Washington. And, you know, and it's a little bit like it feels like a little bit of a loaded question when you ask it, but Logan was really good. He kinda got into, you know, some of the things, some of the things maybe well, you'll hear.

You'll hear some of the things that maybe he, you know, hadn't thanked people for before he left Vegas, but now is playing a crucial role in his success in Washington. So, before we get to that though, which we talked about goalies using different tools in that same article with Cam Talbot, but also had Joey Daccord talking about how he's using NHL Sense Arena, Hutch.

He sure is. And we were also talking about crease crashing earlier and all the injuries to goaltenders. You're not getting injured using NHL Sense Arena unless you're like Woody and you try and use it in your office in a confined space and then you start making blocker saves off your desk. I was like,

man. Is everything coming through? Can't we move past that?

No. Mean, gonna be guy NHL history to get a concussion using Sense Arena too.

I I I did bloody my knuckle on my hand and knock coffee all over my computer.

That's how real it is. So please caution, use NHL Sense Arena in a large space. Look, goalies, we all know the problem. As we've talked about here many times before, warm ups are not designed for us. Whether it's head high rockets in the pregame or it's just not getting enough shots to feel sharp, getting into the zone before the puck drops can be a challenge.

That's why NHL Sense Arena is a game changer. And with Sense Arena's VR training, you can warm up like a pro. You can track shots, read releases, sharpen your reactions all before you even step on the ice. And yes, as Kevin Woodley mentioned, NHL goalies like Joey Daccord use Sense Arena to dial in their focus before actual NHL games. And now you can do the same whether you're in the locker room, at home, away at a tournament.

NHL Sense Arena gives you game speed reps, even NHL game speed reps if you'd like to get you ready before the first puck drop. It's trusted by NHL goalies and goalie coaches, and now it's available for goalies at every level. Don't let a bad warm up hold you back. Take control of your game with NHL Sense Arena. Check it out at sensearena.com.

And remember, use the code IGM 50, and you will save even more.

Logan Thompson on InGoal Radio, the podcast with the NHL Sense Arena feature interview.

Let's start off with just this year. Obviously, it's gone really well, but the adjustment. New team, familiar voice. How much does the familiar voice play a role in getting comfortable in a new environment and new team?

Yeah. Obviously, I knew a lot of people in this organization before I came here and a lot of the players here as well. So, you know, when I got traded here, definitely made the transition, you know, really easy and easy to come in this dressing room and coaching staff for sure.

What specifically gets easier maybe on a goalie coach relationship standpoint? Is it understanding your game, strengths, things like that in terms of building that relationship? Because it can be tough when you go to a new voice.

Yeah, think it's obviously, understanding your goalie coach, understanding your goalie's game is important. Every goalie is different, not everyone's gonna be the same and you guys need to have that good relationship and he's gotta have your back when things are tough and goalie coach is someone that you should be able to vent to and go to when it's not always easy because there's up and downs in sports and being a goalie, you know, more than half it's I'd say mental. So I think that plays a huge part of it as well.

For those that hear me asking about that and then not realizing, what was the relationship with Scotty back when you've you've first signed, you know, in this organization, if I've got it correctly, out of Brock?

Yeah, me and Scottie always had a good relationship even though he cut me many years ago but no, we stayed friends and we always kept in touch and he was someone again who, when things weren't going know, my way, I always could give a call to and he he'd listen to you listen to me and, you know, help me get through some times for sure.

What in particular has worked for you here? Because you've always you had success in Vegas, the underlying numbers were always really good, but it just feels like almost another level and I don't know if that's fair Logan, like do you feel like it you've hit another step here?

You know, I I always knew that there was a level I could get to. I just think that I was, you know, at that level in Vegas my first year and then, you know, I got sidelined with an injury and I just don't think I was necessarily given an opportunity to ever get that back in Vegas. And then coming here, yeah, I think to a new team, a fresh start, know, and just being, you know, just happy mentally and physically, I think that played a that's playing a huge part and I think you can see it on the ice. You know, my results have been really good right now and I think it's a result of just a good dressing room, you know, a great coaching staff and and just happiness throughout everything. You mentioned the mental approach and how

bad when we know how big a part of it is goal tending, what lessons have you learned along the way to get help get yourself to a good spot? Like, there any tricks or techniques you've had on the way that you've changed your from a mindset approach or is it just experience over time?

I think it's almost sounds weird to say but it's caring less, I've been playing hockey, you know, my whole life, you know, when you know, it comes to game time, just go out there and do what I know what to do and it's not always gonna go your way and I think, know, when I was young in Vegas, I think there was so much expectation in that organization that, you know, every loss you definitely felt like it was on the goalie and it played a big part.

I think it's a little bit everything. Sure, experience plays a big part of it. And, you know, I think it's almost sounds weird to say but it's caring less, know, I've been playing hockey, you know, my whole life, you know, when you know, it comes to game time, just go out there and do what I know what to do and it's not always gonna go your way and I think, know, when I was young in Vegas, I think there was so much expectation in that organization that, you know, every loss you definitely felt like it was on the goalie and it played a big part. Was hard to rebound and, know, not know if you're gonna sit for twenty days and stuff like that. So coming here, just like I said, it was fresh start and with my experience and you know, it's not always gonna be pretty and you know, I've had some some good luck in a good run here down the stretch, but it's not always gonna be that way.

I don't think I'll be at two losses all season. But yeah, it's just just experience and and you know what, the goals are gonna go in place, this is the best league in the world, you know, there's gonna be some nights where, you know, you're not it's not gonna go your way and I think just learning to accept that and then, you know, when the game's over, just, you know, it's a new day tomorrow and just right back to

Say like that's easier said than done sometimes, like being able to detach from results like that. Are there people that helped you along the way sort of get to this spot beyond the experience techniques maybe like I think there's a lot of young kids that listen to this in terms of advice for how to separate yourself a little bit from results and get back to the process.

credit to Sean Burke, I don't think I ever really got the chance to tell him this but I finally really started to grasp on, you know, playing more in your blue paint and you know, less is more and just letting the play come to you and I definitely did learn that from him and I think this year I really took that method and Sean Burke and and able to apply it to my game as well.

Yeah and you know, like I say, I think when you look at when I first came to the league, I was young and I was really aggressive and almost tried to do more and over. You can try too hard in this position, right? Absolutely and that I think that was a result of it, know, I was definitely trying too hard and always wanted to be at top of my crease and wanted to move around a lot and I think, you know, last year, kind of at the end of the season and you know, credit to Sean Burke, I don't think I ever really got the chance to tell him this but I finally really started to grasp on, you know, playing more in your blue paint and you know, less is more and just letting the play come to you and I definitely did learn that from him and I think this year I really took that method and Sean Burke and and able to apply it to my game as well. And I think it's I think it's been helping me

a lot. It's interesting because I asked Scotty because I I felt like watching you this year that you were more conservative and he said, no, that was Sean. And so it sounds like it just maybe in fairness took a little while for that to for you to get come I was gonna say to resonate, but maybe just get comfortable with it?

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, there'll be days I think when when me and Berkey would go back and forth that, you know, I was always wanted to be the more agile goalie and and that was definitely harder for me to learn to sit back and especially in practice, know, you're gonna get scored on when you sit back. That's just, you know, how good this league is but in the game it definitely plays, it's a lot easier when you're in your paint more, you know, the distance you gotta travel, it's all about angles and it's way easier to cut off and, you know, credit to Sean Burke, like I said, I never got the chance to tell him that but, you know, I think I finally kinda realized and I'm able to kinda figure out what he was trying to get me to do.

So managing, I know Sean like his one of his things was like, if you can't beat the pass on your skates, you might be too far out.

Yeah. Do you have a rule of thumb that works for you? I mean, it's obviously situational too, right?

It's very situational. I mean, there's times where I will still, you know, take take ice and that's when a player is kind of in all alone with no pass options but no, I think, yeah, just, you know, like I watch a lot of Goalies around the league and, you know, a lot of these young guys coming in, think, you know, like a Goalie like Dustin Wolf, you know, he moves around so well, he's very technical and I can't do that, like I can't move like he can and I think sitting back, you know, it's less is more, it is something I always tell myself, right? I don't need to be t pushing hard and shuffling those little shuffles around the crease, can just let them do all the work and let it come to me.

It is like, it's it's funny that it it does take a while, right? Like even though, I'm sure Sean tried to get you to do that, like, is it you mentioned practice, and I think this is something for kids too. Sometimes you make changes that you know will be better for you in a game, but it's really tough when you're gonna get scored on in practice because guys are getting looks they don't get all the time in practice. How'd you wrap yourself on any advice for young kids that might be going through that?

it's one thing in practice that's you know, I realize it's okay to get scored on in practice as much as us goalies don't like it, you know, the only thing that matters at 07:00 to 10:00, you know, not getting scored on. So it's not gonna be easy. It's definitely not gonna be fun, but, know, it's it's a process. It's a it's a marathon. It's not a sprint.

It's definitely frustrating and like I said, I think when I was in Vegas, that was what I think was the most difficult, know, I was battling to get minutes and get ice time and it sucks when you're out there working on something and you're getting scored on all the time, right? So you know, it's one thing in practice that's you know, I realize it's okay to get scored on in practice as much as us goalies don't like it, you know, the only thing that matters at 07:00 to 10:00, you know, not getting scored on. So it's not gonna be easy. It's definitely not gonna be fun, but, know, it's it's a process. It's a it's a marathon. It's not a sprint.

What's the relationship like with Charlie? You talked about, you know, not knowing what the rotation and the way you guys have managed this. Does that make it easier? Does that make it easier knowing that like you're going back in there, even if everybody wants to play every game, makes it easier that way?

Yeah, I mean, Chucky's been the best guy, the best teammate, you know, I love his family, his wife's awesome. They're just overall just, you know, he's a good person on and off the ice and you know, I love working with him and sharing the crease with him and I think when I'm in net or when he's in net, we just want this team to win and we want to support each other and I think that's also been a big result of why both goalies have been so successful this year is just our chemistry on and off the ice.

Okay, so have you ever had a partner that catches full right?

No, I mean in Vegas, I had Seville back me up a couple times, who's another righty but not enough for a full season tandem, no, I think it's gonna be my first one.

Do you guys compare notes? Do you guys talk? Like like, because it would be weird on the other hand, like, all the tactics and technique and where you are on the ice, like those conversations, I guess, wouldn't change if it's a guy who catches with the other hand, is there any benefit? I think for years, people wondered if there'd be a downside to having two lefties. Is there a benefit for you guys?

I don't know. I mean, I think I think in practice, there's been players that that say they think it helps them. I think we play a different style than lefties is is what guys like John Carlson and stuff have said. I But think me and Charlie kind of, we play similar, we're more hybrid react, kind of the older style goalies that I think are slowly kind of dying out of this league. I think the new thing now is kind of big and block is what teams are starting to go towards.

I think me and Charlie are very similar and and more old school in a lot of ways.

You guys also both have really good gear style.

Do you guys Yeah. Try to. Yeah.

Is that part of like, do you like, know Charlie's a bit of a goalie geek. Yeah. Like, do you guys geek out a little bit on some of this stuff? Do you compare notes on what you're doing next from Bauer?

Yeah. I mean, he's always on the the iceberg, that's what call it, right? That's always been Neil Vaughn? Yeah. Yeah.

So I like to mix mix it up a bit here with with some styles. So I I'm able to kind of go with the Kipper, Kipper Soft Style on my retro set this year, I wanted to do it last year in Vegas but no, it turned out great this year and yeah, no, I'm always looking to to do exciting stuff with my helmets and gear.

So I know you're heading home, I guess the last one you're heading home on this trip. Was that the guy for you? Like was Kipper absolutely the guy?

Yeah, Kipper was the guy for me. Growing up, Calgary was always an AC team, they would always you know, just get in the playoffs other than that one run but Kipper just every night gave him a chance and I like this style, it wasn't pretty, you know, it wasn't necessarily the eye candy, but he just found a way to to keep the pocket of the net and that's something I've always admired about him. Do you, like,

did you get a point where you were like trying to it's one thing to admire, but as a young Logan Thompson, did you emulate did you try and do like, we talked about the aggression in your game early on, like Kipper certainly had that, it was a different game back then but

Yeah. I think there's a lot of things I try to take from Kipper, especially now with more experience. I think one thing is, that guy was all he was never upset whenever he got scored on, he showed no emotion and it didn't look like anything ever got to him and I think that's that's one thing now I'm trying to I think the last little tweak I gotta throw into my game is just just having that clear mindset and and just reset, move on and I think I've done a good job with that this year so far. And it was supposed to be

Outro

a part two to that, Woody, but but it was interrupted or delayed because of some Yeah. Great news for

The big contract extension the next day. So I was heading back in there to ask him, you know, some of the things that he's so he's so good at reacting to pucks. Right? So I wanted to pick his brain a little more about how he reads releases. He's got such a great reactionary game.

No. It it one of the best in the league that I've been able to see at reading the release. It's like he knows where it's going before. And I at first, I thought he's really good at just anticipating, but the more I was able to watch him up close because our time with the Vegas Golden Knights together, he he knows where it's going.

Hellebuyck-esque. Yes. When we when we talk about that. And so, yeah, I wanna really wanted to get that in in with him. But again, you know, for good reason, very good reason, he was in high demand on the second day when I went back for their practice on the Monday because he just signed the contract.

And so we had to wait a little bit, and you know what? We're still gonna try and get that. We're still gonna try and have that conversation. Maybe we make it part of ProReads where we get some video and he can show us some of the the way he reads the game. It's something he's expressed interest in, and I think his his breakdowns would be fascinating.

So congratulations to Logan Thompson on the contract. One of the few times we've been happy to not be able to extend it with a part two. Great news for him. Great news for the Washington Capitals. And hopefully, we get to catch up with him and ask those questions later.

Yep. ProReads with Logan would definitely grab my interest. I I love them all the time playing off what the the athletes say, But going into it, I have I have a lot of interesting queries regarding how Logan does what he does.

Yep. And then and, you know, that I think there's that openness from him where we would get some great insights on it. So let's we'll call that a plan. In the meantime, though, don't forget for next week, folks, we already have a plan in place. We should have Cam Talbot for both the podcast and and ProReads as well.

So, a Vizual Edge user, I know he's talked about it being a big part of sort of his late career surge with both LA and now in Detroit. He's playing great for them. We'll catch up with him before we talk to you next and bring it all to you.

What's Talbot's nickname?

That's a really good question. I've heard guys call them Talbs. Yeah. I've heard Talbs. Talbs.

Yeah. That's a standard hockey nickname,

isn't it?

I know, but it just doesn't feel right to me. But is it Talbs?

I that's how I've heard other guys refer to him as Talbs. So we'll have to you know what? These these are forget ProReads, Daren. I guess this is now my mission to find out what his nickname is. Right?

We'll just skip the ProReads, and we'll do a deep dive on Talb.

Segment, goalie nicknames.

I'm I'm good with that.

I've got I've got I know what my nickname is in my for me, I'm in goalies. It's not very nice.

What's that?

Siv. What? They don't say nice things to me, Daren. I'm not very good.

You need a support group to walk into your room with.

I have the other

He just needs one in life. Yes. Good point.

I have you guys. You guys are my support group.

In the car. Just the we're all surrounding him. We're here for you, Woody.

I've been trying to teach him all about artificial intelligence lately. He needs to just get on there with ChatGPT and say, I don't feel worthy. Help me out.

Have you guys done that with yourself?

I need affirmations.

What's that? Have you guys ever put information in the computer with AI and just put like four things about yourself and seeing what it would spit out?

Not quite like that, but I literally the other day said, I'm getting a little worried. I'm an introvert and I'm having such good conversations with you. I'm like never gonna speak to another person. And it actually gave me some awesome advice and it was related to hockey and being a goalie parent. Like it knew me Yeah.

Yeah. It was really kind of spooky. I'll send it to you.

I want the the chat AI, Kevin Woodley advice.

I might break it.

I've asked it to write something in the tone of Kevin Woodley and it was really impressive.

I might break artificial intelligence.

Because there's no intelligence. There's no real intelligence here.

And InGoal I'm sorry.

This does

not compute. That could not happen to one person. All those things.

I would love an InGoal sweater, InGoal in the back, and I broke AI. Kevin Woodley quote on the front.

Well, I just I literally just now forwarded an email I got from a listener who wants to know where the Goalie Howe hat trick merchandise is. So we're just adding to the list of things we have to produce.

Listen, your Goalie Howe hat trick, inspired Steve Thompson to send me a note when he heard it. He loved it. He might be stealing it for USA Hockey because I think their hat trick is is like, they've got a different one for kids in terms of playing different positions and doing different things within a game. So you might you might you might, I don't if you

get credit, but I'm yeah.

It might be stolen.

And if Steve is still listening to this point of the podcast, though, I appreciated your two nights with the Bronze Level goalie coach training. It was so enlightening. I love the just the theories part of it, and I love the safe getting into the coaching. It was it was awesome. So I really appreciate it from USA Hockey.

Guys, have a good week. Enjoy it. We're coming up on a Four Nations face off break, which will allow us to dive into some of the other things happening in goaltending that we may not usually have an opportunity to. So I'm looking forward to that. Be well, be safe, and enjoy this journey of goaltending.