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2021-22 Player Review: Laurent Brossoit satisfactory as backup before injury

In the 2021-22 Player Review series, we will evaluate the 2021-22 performances of each key member of the Golden Knights. Players were evaluated based on overall performance in the regular season with regard to pre-season expectations and how that player performed in his particular role.

There’s never a dull moment in the Vegas Golden Knights’ goaltending room. From the sudden departure of Marc-Andre Fleury to Robin Lehner calling out the NHL’s questionable pain medication distribution, there’s always something to talk about.

Of the Golden Knights’ three notable goalies deployed throughout the 2021-22 season, Laurent Brossoit had the quietest campaign of the bunch, mainly due to an undisclosed injury that ultimately ended his season in March. But when he was healthy, he provided pretty much exactly what one would expect out of a backup goalie.

Season in review

The Golden Knights signed Brossoit in free agency last summer — the day after trading Fleury to the Chicago Blackhawks. Fans didn’t exactly have the highest expectations for Brossoit going into the regular season, nor should they have. He was a career backup who, at the time of his signing, had never appeared in more than 21 games in a single campaign. With Lehner entrenched as the team’s No. 1 goalie, Brossoit was set to continue playing a backup role for the Knights.

Of course, that’s pretty much exactly how Brossoit’s season unfolded. The 29-year-old played in 24 games — a new career high — and logged a 2.90 goals against average along with a .895 save percentage and 10-9-3 record. Not exactly sterling numbers, but not terrible for a backup.

Unfortunately, Brossoit’s season ended early due to an undisclosed injury. He played his final game of the season on March 15 against his old Winnipeg Jets club, but it wasn’t an outing to remember. He allowed four goals on 13 shots before being pulled, and the Jets went on to earn the 7-3 victory.

Looking ahead

Brossoit was placed on injured reserve in April, and ex-Golden Knights head coach Peter DeBoer announced at the end of the season that he would have a medical procedure done this offseason to treat his ailment. Brossoit has one year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $2,325,000. Assuming he recovers from his injury without issue, he’ll have the opportunity to compete for the backup gig again in training camp. But earning that role won’t be so easy this time around.

While Brossoit was on IR, Logan Thompson stepped in for an injured Lehner and played admirably in the Golden Knights’ final games of the regular season. Thompson signed a three-year, $2.3 million contract extension in January, so it’s quite likely the Golden Knights could opt to move forward with a Lehner-Thompson tandem. If so, Brossoit could end up spending much of next season in Henderson.

Knights On Ice grade: C

How would you grade Brossoit’s performance this season?

A 2
B 7
C 17
D 3
F 1