Should Kelly McCrimmon be released from his duties as GM?
— CASSIDY BABYYYY (@vids_nhl) August 30, 2022
Mind you, this was one of MANY tweets that came up when the Vegas Golden Knights acquired Adin Hill from the San Jose Sharks in 2022. Fans were baffled by the move, asking Kelly McCrimmon to get two-way players.
However, Hill did something magical for the Golden Knights in 2022-23. He led the team to the Stanley Cup. Amidst the wave of goaltender injuries, Vegas found its starter in the process and stuck with him for the long term.
How long, you ask? Well, he got six more years tacked onto his contract in October. Now, he's making $37.5 million in his new deal, establishing himself as the team's long-term option.
Not bad for a guy known for chillin' and Hillin'.
The numbers showed why he earned his money, too. Last season, he posted a GAA of 2.47 (sixth in the NHL), a save percentage of .906, and four shutouts (tied for seventh). On top of that, his advanced stats show how efficient he was with Vegas (stats courtesy of MoneyPuck).
Goaltender | Goals Saved Above Expected | Save Percentage Above Expected | GAA | xGAA | GAA Better Than Expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adin Hill | 14.5 | 0.0050 | 2.47 | 2.77 | 0.30 |
While those numbers sound nice, the circumstances have changed. Now, he could be stuck in tougher circumstances where his numbers may dwindle.
What could Adin Hill face in 2025-26
Losing Alex Pietrangelo and Nicolas Hague will definitely hurt Hill in the upcoming season. You no longer have two big bodies taking away shooting lanes and restricting open looks. While adding a couple of two-way players and a hard-hitting back-end player helps, you're still losing that size.
The Calgary native must find ways to adapt and make these big saves. Suddenly, you're looking at more unblocked shots heading your way. Now, you're trying to stay on your feet at all times. That'll be a new challenge that the 29-year-old will face in the upcoming year.
I see the front office is back on the crazy pills again.
— Wes Haag (@WesinID) August 29, 2022
If he doesn't want reactions like this, that means learning to adjust to a heavier workload. Last season, Hill started a career-high 50 games. He performed well during the regular season and stole games by himself. But when the playoffs rolled around, he broke down.
Hill was letting in shots that he would normally stop, being deceived by pedestrian plays. That led to a GAA of 2.93 and a save percentage of .887 during the Stanley Cup playoffs (11 games started). Adjusting and carrying more stamina with him into the 2025-26 season is key to continuing that underdog story.
Hill should be up for the task in 2025-26
If last season was any indication, Adin Hill stepped up and became an integral part of the Golden Knights' Pacific Division run. He started using his big frame more and swallowed shots, becoming a steady force in the process. Whenever the attack sputtered, the 29-year-old was there to ease the pressure.
This time, he's heading into the 2025-26 season with some uncertainty. However, it's not like he hasn't faced such adversity before. The former Sharks goaltender had to claw his way from a backup goaltender position to become cozy in Sin City.
But this time, the lights will be on him. The focus will be whether he can continue his underdog run that inspired so many. The good news? He's got a goaltender-friendly system in front of him and he's dealt with more adverse situations before.
Doesn’t improve VGK goaltending situation.
— James Bodman (@JimBodman) August 30, 2022
Looks like it's time for Hill to write another chapter in his underdog story.