"Doctor! I need a doctor!"
A doctor emerges from the back and sees a patient clutching their ribs.
"What is it?"
"I'm feeling a throbbing pain. I was beaten in the Stanley Cup playoffs and need help!"
The doctor looks at the patient, who's wearing a battered Vegas Golden Knights jersey. The doctor looks panicked and worried.
"Oh my goodness, we need to help you. You look like you've been through a few battles!"
The patient lies on the table as the doctor does a quick exam. Then, the doctor has an idea and his face lights up.
"I have an idea!"
The patient looks at him with a confused gaze. They can't believe he came up with a solution that quickly.
"Wow, that was quick. What do you suppose I do to heal from my playoff-tested wounds?"
The doctor looks at them with a rejuvenated look.
"Well, the goal is getting you ready for October! That starts with doing three things for the next hockey season. These remedies will help you become a champion again, dominating the NHL landscape."
The doctor leans in.
"Take some notes!"
1.) Give Adin Hill a break!
This past season saw an increase in games started for Adin Hill. The 29-year-old played 50 games in a season, 15 more than the previous year.
On the surface, that doesn't sound like a problem! After all, he had a GAA of 2.47 (sixth in the NHL) and a save percentage of .906. On top of that, he had four shutouts in a career year.
But there's a deeper problem with starting 50 games. You see, Hill's numbers... took a dive in the postseason. How bad was he compared to the regular season (stats courtesy of MoneyPuck)?
2024-25 | GAA | Save Percentage | Goals Saved Above Expected | Save Percentage Above Expected | Wins Above Replacement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Regular season | 2.47 | .906 | 14.5 | 0.0050 | 2.42 |
Postseason | 2.93 | .887 | -4.2 | -0.0061 | -0.71 |
So what was the reason behind starting a career-high 50 games? A major part was Ilya Samsonov, who was underwhelming as a backup. This past season, the Russian netminder had a GAA of 2.82 and a save percentage of .891. Those numbers are dismal enough to make Steve Dangle's head explode.
Luckily, some options are waiting in the wings. Akira Schmid is heading towards being the backup after a stellar sample size this past season. Other options in Henderson also exist, including the Swedish wonder, Carl Lindbom. 2025-26 should be the season that the Calgary native is "Chillin' and Hillin'."
2.) Shoot more when it counts
When you look at the Golden Knights this past season, they've done a solid job of shooting the puck. You might not believe it, yet they were ranked fourth during the regular season in team shots (2,483). But the postseason? That's a different beast.
Vegas had 313 team shots during the postseason, seventh among NHL teams. Obviously, the Oilers (586) and the Panthers (535) sit in first and second, respectively. Yes, they're the two main teams playing in the Stanley Cup Final, which makes this obvious.
However, both squads finished in the top three in the shots category. Edmonton (2,622) had the most, while Florida (2,589) was third. Bruce Cassidy talked about changing the team's philosophy so they can shoot the puck more. Why not carry that momentum over to the playoffs and establish your style from the get-go?
3.) Get another top-six winger to bolster the forward group
You already know who's being referenced here. After all, every team would want his services. But it doesn't have to be a "Core Four" member that puts Vegas over the top. It must be a reliable top-six winger that can pair alongside Jack Eichel.
While Victor Olofsson had a good season for his one-year, $1.075 million contract (15 goals and 14 assists), those numbers were good from a lower-six perspective. You look at a player like Ivan Barbashev (eight goals and 13 assists since January 11) and you expect more from him. Yet, he doesn't consistently deliver.
While the Golden Knights are tight on cap space ($9.615 million), it still doesn't hurt to grab another solid goal-scorer to the mix. You can always build your lower-six forward group with cheaper signings, after all (i.e., Tanner Pearson and his 12 goals and 15 assists).