Imagine this nightmare scenario, dear reader. You're at the airport, sitting comfortably and minding your business. Here comes a heavy-set, balding man in a white t-shirt eating a bucket of KFC. You can smell the farts permeating from him as they smell like a sewer combined with a dead cow. He's coming to sit on you as you have no escape route. He desperately wants that spot for himself and his family.
His name? Josh and he's from San Francisco.
But in all seriousness, the Vegas Golden Knights might have a potential nightmare scenario this season. It's one where they might need some help through the trade deadline, acquiring a big name to ease the pain. No, it doesn't involve Mitch Marner, although that could also help the Golden Knights offensively.
This nightmare scenario involves a more defensive-minded situation, one that's as scary as there being only one beer left in the fridge. What would happen if the starter suddenly went down? What if he was out for multiple months, leaving the Golden Knights scrambling for help in this position? That could frighten fans, leaving them hopeless throughout the season. Here's what the nightmare proposes for Golden Knights fans during the 2024-25 season.
What will happen if Adin Hill suffers an injury?
Adin Hill is a good goaltender, posting a GAA of 2.60 and a save percentage of .912 in two seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights. He also has a quality start percentage of .583 during that tenure, his highest with any team. He's set to be the starter for the Golden Knights entering the 2024-25 season, meaning he'll have more responsibility.
But he also has a decorated injury history, with lower body problems keeping him out for a chunk of 2023-24. What if these health concerns strike again? Where will the Golden Knights turn to get solid goaltending production? Will it be Ilya Samsonov, who was extremely shaky last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs? Will it be Akira Schmid, who'll need more time at the AHL level before playing in the NHL?
Bear in mind Samsonov was a factor in the Maple Leafs being eliminated by the Boston Bruins in last season's Stanley Cup playoffs. During the series, he had a GAA of 3.01 and a save percentage of .896. If Golden Knights fans get this version of the Russian goaltender, that could be a serious problem. He's not known for keeping soft shots out of the net, which could be an issue.
Granted, he will play in a goaltender-friendly system next season, as will Hill. That means better looks for the netminders and shooting lanes being taken away. However, that won't mean much if Adin Hill goes down with another injury during the regular season. If that's the case, the goalie situation could be as rancid as a KFC fart. That's something Golden Knights fans don't want to see (or smell).