Every year, The Athletic breaks down the worst NHL contracts, and in the latest rankings, author Dom Luszczyszyn added an interesting name to his Top 3: Vegas Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill. After guiding the franchise to its first and only Stanley Cup in 2023, General Manager Kelly McCrimmon signed him to a two-year extension for $9.8 million. Then, in early 2025, he extended his franchise netminder for six years at $37.5 million. It’s safe to say, since the ink dried on the paperwork, Hill’s future and health came into question not long after.
Why does The Athletic think Hill’s contract is among the worst in the NHL?
In 2026, Hill is the 16th highest-paid goalie in the NHL and is just one of 18 making over $6 million annually. Moreover, he is now one of 13 netminders who are 30 or older on this short list of multi-millionaires. However, in the first full season of his new deal, Hill played just 27 games, producing a 10-9-6 record with a career-worst .870 SV% and 3.04 GAA.
Things got so bad for Hill, the man who carried the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup in 2023, that during the team’s recent run to the championship series, he didn’t play a single minute, getting supplanted by Carter Hart. Former head coach John Tortarella rode his netminder from his Philadelphia days through the entirety of the postseason, even balking at the question of putting in Hill when Vegas was down in the Final.
Now, Hart is staying in the desert, which makes many wonder what will happen to Hill. Two years ago, in 2024-25, he played a career-high of 50 games, the only time he’s ever skated more than 35 contests in a single season. Considering that Hart is a workhorse puckstopper himself, it will be very interesting to see how the goaltending situation plays out.
However, Luszczyszyn isn’t wrong in his assessment of Hill’s contract. Of the goalies making $6 million annually, only Hill and Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks failed to play at least 41 games last season. With Hill’s modest win-loss record, it seems Vegas overpaid him based on past performances. Hopefully, Hill can bounce back, but with a full training camp and a chance to remain the Golden Knights’ No. 1 goalie, he will be in a difficult position to knock Hart from the top of the chart.
Additionally, Hill wasn't the only player with Golden Knights ties to appear on The Athletic's rankings. Former forward Chandler Stephenson ranked second behind Calgary's Jonathan Huberdeau, thanks to his seven-year, $43 million contract with the Seattle Kraken. Meanwhile, Original Misfit Alex Tuch came in at No. 9 after signing a new eight-year, $84 million deal with the Washington Capitals.
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