Vegas Golden Knights fans were excited when they saw Adin Hill return to the ice. They saw the injured netminder act like his usual self, stopping shots and chatting with his teammates. It was like Christmas stayed an extra week and sprayed some good-luck dust onto Las Vegas.
Praise the heavens! Everything's coming up Milhouse!
Lo and behold, the Golden Knights enter Thursday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on a five-game winning streak. Vegas heads home to Adin Hill's own bobblehead night on a set of good vibes, feeling good about being in first place.
Adin Hill and Joseph Woll lead their teams onto the ice for warm ups in Las Vegas.
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) January 16, 2026
But let's get back to the goaltender for a second. He's slated to make his return soon, bolstering a goaltending room that has been suspect this season. It doesn't matter if it's raw rookies, inconsistent goalies, or injuries hampering the unit. Vegas has had no luck at the position, so they had to sign Carter Hart.
Since Hill's starting for the first time since October 20, it's time to see what fans should expect on his bobblehead night. Sure, it might be a night where Mitch Marner gets all the adulation and attention. But the netminder also plays a significant role with his return.
Adin Hill might not get off to a fast start for the Vegas Golden Knights
Upon returning to the fold, Adin Hill's 2025-26 stats might not jump out much to people. The Calgary native has a GAA of 2.73 and a save percentage of .888. Granted, this was in five starts, which is a relatively small sample size. However, this was also in October.
So, what's so significant about October? Well, dear reader, Hill got off to a similar slow start last season. He had a GAA of 3.20 and a save percentage of .878. Mind you, those stats were worse than his five starts and carry a similar sample size (six October starts).
But how did that season end up for Hill? One can say that it ended relatively well, with career-best numbers in GAA (2.47) and shutouts (four). He also had a good save percentage (.906). Hill rebounded from his slow start and netted a six-year deal in the process.
There could be some rust coming from Hill's play upon returning. Yes, that comes with not having key defenders and two-way players like Brayden McNabb and William Karlsson. However, he should pick up the pace once he gets comfortable in net. Speaking of pieces...
The Vegas Golden Knights must pick up the slack for Hill
The Golden Knights have a peculiar situation, where the goaltending is dictated by how well the defense plays in front. If the defenders are taking away shooting lanes and deterring good looks, everything's Gucci. If not, life becomes no bueno for the goaltenders.
That's no different for Adin Hill, who relies on his 6'4" frame to take up space. In turn, he doesn't have to move around much, using his body to swallow shots. But what happens when you don't have those key defenders?
Obviously, it's on the Stanley Cup winner to pick up the slack. But his teammates must do the same. That means getting sticks to the ice and keeping your opponents from getting space. It takes a team effort to win games and make life easier for the netminder. The 29-year-old will be more than grateful for the assistance upon returning.