Some people were concerned about the Vegas Golden Knights at the goaltending position. What would happen if Adin Hill went down with a devastating injury? What if *GASP* Ilya Samsonov were to replace him, carrying his bad season from Toronto over with him? It seems that position has become a weak point to start the season. However, it isn't Samsonov who's the weak link.
Hill has a GAA of 3.81 and a save percentage of .851 in four games. Golden Knights fans have noticed this alarming trend, with the goaltender allowing softer goals. It's led to disastrous losses to the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning. In fact, the Golden Knights missed two points on Thursday because the last three minutes were terrible.
It's silly to compare Hill to his backup, especially when he's only played one game. However, fans will have these thoughts whenever their start allows nearly four goals per game. Just look at the Colorado Avalanche, who are dealing with Alexandar Georgiev's 5.79 goals per game and save percentage of .800 before Friday. It's no wonder Colorado entered Friday's contest against the Anaheim Ducks 0-4-0, aside from an underwhelming defense.
Fans are searching for whatever answers they can find. Could Kelly McCrimmon work a trade and make Hill the No. 2 starter? Could we see an extreme move in Samsonov stepping into the starter role? Many questions linger around the British Columbia native, specifically since he's fallen from his days of peerless Stanley Cup heroics.
What's happening with Adin Hill?
Some will say Adin Hill's lackluster play stems from last season's injuries. After returning from injuries on February 6, 2024, the starting netminder has posted a GAA of 3.52 and a save percentage of .877. It's been an underwhelming performance from his days as a Stanley Cup hero, where he swung the momentum in the Vegas Golden Knights's favor.
Sure, some people will defend him for last season's Stanley Cup playoff performance. Here, he had a GAA of 1.70, a save percentage of .931, and a shutout. Some will say he had some bad breaks during the new hockey campaign. These are fair arguments for someone trying to find their footing after last season's injury-laden campaign.
However, the Golden Knights can't count on a goaltender who gives up three second period goals in four minutes against Washington. That also goes for giving up two goals in the last three minutes against the Tampa Bay Lightning, costing the team two points. Some goals might come off a bad bounce, yet Hill is on the hook for the others.
That's especially true when he's struggling to use his entire 6'4" frame. It's tough being a positional goaltender when you're getting used to your body frame. In turn, softer goals and freak accidents start piling up, putting the team in a compromised position. That holds true for Thursday's game, where the Golden Knights were in line to win the game.
Can Hill turn it around or will Ilya Samsonov come calling?
The good news is Hill was playing a good game against the Lightning prior to the collapse. He's shown signs that he can carry a game and handle 60 minutes of fast-paced hockey. However, a few minutes have hurt the starting goaltender, with the past two contests being a shining example.
Some fans will call for Ilya Samsonov to start in net. While that seems like a good replacement, they must know that the Russian goaltender has only started one game this season. Yes, that was a win against an upstart Anaheim Ducks team. But this is the same Samsonov who was exiled from Toronto for a horrible performance last season.
That cautionary tale could lead Kelly McCrimmon to consider other options, such as trading for a bigger name. Unfortunately, there aren't many viable answers for the general manager to consider. That could leave Vegas in a compromised position to stick with Hill, for better or worse.
Fans won't think too much about the last preseason game for the Golden Knights. It was simply a younger San Jose Sharks team wanting the game more. Vegas thought of it as a meaningless tune-up despite their rivals winning, 6-5. But there might've been some foreshadowing with Hill allowing three goals in the last three minutes. Could that spell trouble down the road? Stay tuned, for the drama's only getting started.