Four years.
That's all it took for Marc-Andre Fleury to run away with the Vegas Golden Knights' all-time saves record. He registered 5,053 saves during his stint, almost doubling the second-place goaltender in Logan Thompson (2,737).
Mind you, two seasons were shortened because of COVID-19. You weren't playing full 82-game seasons and were even restricted by geography in one season. There was no way you were flying over to Canada when a rampant disease was running around.
Imagine all the work you had to do to get to that point. The Golden Knights legend averaged 2,121 saves during his NHL career. Don't forget that he did this over the span of 21 years, making this even more impressive. It's no wonder he's on the fast track to becoming a Hall of Famer!
Some people think that record can't be defeated. Some people think that doubling up the next guy who played the same amount of seasons makes this tough to beat. But is that the case?
Believe it or not, there's one name that can potentially do it. Mind you, he's not putting up an obscene 1,700 saves in a season. However, playing the long game will prove to be the difference for this netminder.
Adin Hill could be the Vegas Goldenk Knights goaltender to break the saves record
Adin Hill currently has 2,722 saves, good for third all-time. That's not bad for three seasons with the Golden Knights, especially when he had a career-high 1,172 saves last season. One major reason stands out regarding why he'll break the career saves record with Vegas.
In March, Hill signed a six-year deal worth $37.5 million. That solidified the starting goaltender position with the Golden Knights, taking him off the market in the process. So, what does that have to do with surpassing Fleury's record?
Well, barring a falloff of the worst variety or debilitating injuries, Hill has the starting position locked up. If he produces similar seasons to 2024-25, he'll break that record by the third season.
Why Hill might not be the one to break Fleury's record
But that doesn't mean it's a lock. Aside from injuries and play, the prospect pool could also become a factor. Fans know what Carl Lindbom could do as a potential NHL goaltender, specifically with his meteoric rise through the farm system. But that also applies to Cameron Whitehead, who's played well in his amateur career.
Now, he'll get a taste of the minor leagues with the Henderson Silver Knights next season. Dominating at Northeastern with a GAA of 2.68 and a save percentage of .914 will certainly raise eyebrows. Who knows if he'll continue that into a starting position? Don't forget about Pavel Moysevich, who has had impressive campaigns in the KHL.
The good news? Prospects aren't guaranteed to be a success. Sometimes, you'll have players that look promising at the AHL level who don't pan out.
For Hill, that could mean more "Chillin' And Hillin'" in Las Vegas. That could also mean breaking Fleury's all-time saves record in due time.