It's looking like this might be the last of Adin Hill we see forever

Last summer, there was a debate raging in Las Vegas. It was as big as Kathleen Kennedy's ego and stemmed around two goaltenders. One was Adin Hill, the Stanley Cup Final hero who came out of nowhere to become an efficient NHL goaltender. The other was Logan Thompson, a solid netminder who kept the Vegas Golden Knights in the series against the Dallas Stars.

"Who are the Golden Knights keeping?"

"Will that player get a contract extension?"

These questions raged on as Kelly McCrimmon was left with a tough decision. Both players were in their mid-late 20's and shared identical stats.

Both goaltenders were so close last season that you swear they were joined at the hip. Don't give Kelly McCrimmon any ideas because the 31 other fanbases will start complaining. Can't offend the people in Alberta, you know?

Ultimately, Thompson wanted to move to Washington D.C., to be closer to his fiance. That's when the Golden Knights traded him to the Washington Capitals for two third-round draft picks (No. 83 in the 2024 NHL Draft and the third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft). Now, he has a chance to prove he's a bona fide starting goaltender.

Thompson has actually thrived with his new team with a GAA of 2.15 and a save percentage of .924. His excellent play even earned him a contract extension with his new team, where he's sticking around for six more years and $35.1 million. Meanwhile, Hill has a GAA of 2.69 and a save percentage of .900. He also doesn't have a new contract with him. Considering McCrimmon has been busy with extending key players, it's as surprising as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox making a trade together.

The month of January might've derailed Adin Hill's hopes of a return... or getting a good contract, at least

The Calgary native had an impressive December for the Vegas Golden Knights, boasting a GAA of 2.26 and a save percentage of .919. However, the good times started to end on January 9 when the Golden Knights were shut out by the New York Islanders. In that game, Hill allowed three goals on 20 shots, amounting to a single-game save percentage of .850.

Since that fateful day, the 28-year-old has a GAA of 3.03 and a save percentage of .885. Suddenly, Hill's stock has dropped in the eyes of the fanbase, with more people calling for his head. Take this game-winning goal from K'Andre Miller on Sunday at Madison Square Garden as a perfect example.

Miller hit a top-shelf shot that left Hill helpless, giving the Rangers a full momentum-shift in their favor. Whether it's beating him bar down or hitting his glove side, Team Canada's goaltender has relapsed into being the regular goaltender he's always been.

In turn, it's diminished any talk of potentially getting a contract extension done... or getting more money from his deal, at least. Hill will probably contend with getting less than $5 million AAV in his next deal and settle for fewer years, leaving him at an impasse for his next contract. It looks like a career in selling propane might be in his future.

The most intriguing part is it's not anybody's fault

You can't blame Kelly McCrimmon for trading Logan Thompson and making Adin Hill his top goaltender. Thompson wanted a trade for personal reasons and got it. In turn, they're left with a situation that's reared its ugly head. What's a team to do when your main goaltender suddenly goes dry?

It's not saying that the Calgary native is a bad goaltender, either. He's proven to be instrumental during the last two Stanley Cup iterations. In fact, he's won games on his own this season. A perfect example is December 3 against the Edmonton Oilers, where he stopped 28 shots. That game looms large in the Pacific Division race, where the Oilers are shooting for the division title.

However, fans might not see the 28-year-old next season if he continues regressing to the mean. Bruce Cassidy hasn't shied away from criticizing his netminders, saying they must be better. That could ultimately decide whether the team wins the Stanley Cup or not... and whether fans will see Hill again.