As I was reading through Puck Prose while on the toilet, I came across an interesting article concerning Adin Hill. It talked about the Vegas Golden Knights goaltender after signing a six-year contract extension. Of course, Logan Thompson is involved and the discussion shifts to the summer of 2024.
As fans recall, the Golden Knights shipped Thompson to the Washington Capitals for a third-round pick. They shifted their attention to Hill as a boost of confidence after a solid 2024 playoff showing (1.70 GAA and a save percentage of .931 in three games).
That decision has had numerous layers, particularly with Thompson's emergence. The Capitals are sitting pretty atop the NHL standings with 98 points. Vegas isn't doing too bad, either. They have the Pacific Division lead entering Thursday with 86 points.
So did McCrimmon make the right choice holding onto the freshly-extended netminder? That's a good question. There's an argument that trading Thompson wasn't a good decision. Having a GAA of 2.29 and a save percentage of .917 in 39 games is a testament to that.
However, there was a good reason behind the deal. The Capitals netminder wanted to be closer to his fiance. He also wanted to prove himself as a goaltender for a separate franchise. So why not go to the nation's capital?
That left an opening for the other goaltender and these three reasons show why keeping him is worth it. That's right, dear reader. This is a response to that article stating why it works.
1.) Adin Hill led the Vegas Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup
Fans will recall that it was Hill, not Thompson, who led the Golden Knights to their first Stanley Cup. That postseason, he showed he was a phenomenal goaltender during the run. He had a GAA of 2.17, a save percentage of .932, and two shutouts in 14 games started.
Mind you, Thompson was out with a lower-body injury. That kept him out of commission during the run, leaving an open opportunity for Hill. But what if the Capitals goaltender started in net instead?
That mystery will linger for ages as fans don't know what he can do during the Stanley Cup playoffs. As mentioned in the Puck Prose article, that gives the current Vegas netminder the advantage.
2.) It wouldn't have mattered with Bruce Cassidy's airtight system
Both goaltenders would've been fine in Bruce Cassidy's system regardless of who got the nod. The head coach has prided himself on clogging shooting lanes and suffocating opposing offenses. So far, it's worked.
The Golden Knights have amassed the second-most blocked shots in the past three seasons (4,043). They've also allowed the ninth-fewest goals in that span (649). One can assume it would'nt have mattered who was the starting goaltender heading into the season.
3.) The pressure's on Logan Thompson and not Hill
When comparing two goaltenders, it's crucial to note their past accolades. That goes back to winning the Stanley Cup, of course. Only one has won the title and led the team on that run.
Sure, the undrafted netminder was also a Stanley Cup champion. But it was his former teammate who went on that remarkable run, not him. Therefore, the pressure's on him to deliver in Washington, D.C. That's especially true with Alex Ovechkin (34 goals) having a historical season.