RALEIGH, N.C. – Adin Hill has the right attitude and it can’t be easy. He’s a competitor. Wants to play. Wants to be on the ice. Wants to replicate what occurred in 2023 with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Why wouldn’t he?
It’s when Hill in goal helped lead the Knights to a Stanley Cup championship.
He replaced the injured Laurent Brossoit in Game 3 of the second round against Edmonton and never looked back. Never wavered.
But it’s different this time.
The Knights open play against Carolina for the right to lift the Cup in Game 1 of a best-of-seven series on Tuesday night at the Lenovo Center.
Hill won’t be on the ice. He will assume what is now his customary seat off it. Carter Hart — easily one of the best Vegas players during this postseason run to the franchise’s third Cup appearance in nine years — will again be in goal.
As he should be.
Hill in March of 2025 signed a six-year, $37.5 million extension with the Knights, thought then the present and future in net for the organization.
But things don’t always work out the way most planned.
Long rehab
He suffered a lower body injury — ironically against Carolina — in October and missed three months of action. Former coach Bruce Cassidy tried getting Hill back to form upon his return but it was a tough go.
And once John Tortorella replaced Cassidy in late March with eight regular-season games remaining, the writing quickly became evident across the wall.
Hart would be the guy.
And there is no arguing with results. He has been fantastic.
“Any time you get injured, it’s not great, but this is the most time I’ve missed with one injury,” Hill said. “It was a long recovery. I feel good now, and we are where we are as a team. Hoping we can finish strong.
“Obviously, as an athlete, you want to be playing. But in a way, it’s not that difficult. We’re having fun and we’re here so it has been great.”
He can be a strong sounding board for Hart. Someone the latter can seek advice from in what is easily the most pressure-packed reality for any NHL player.
Know this: Hill is beloved in the room.
He is an outstanding presence.
“A great teammate,” defenseman Shea Theodore said. “We’re all professionals. I think having him help Carter get accustomed to Vegas in general has helped. Carter just has been playing really well.
“Carter just took the job. Adin is a great guy to have around. And it shows the depth of our organization.”
This much is true. Sounds simple, but the best Vegas teams over nine seasons have been the deepest.
They have had a next-man-up mentality from the outset.
Now, they have a Stanley Cup winning goalie as a backup.
And yet if anyone knows how quickly things can change, how the stars might re-align themselves in an instant, it’s Hill.
“Carter has found his game, and he’s playing great and making every save he needs to make,” he said. “He’s giving our team a chance to win every single game and that’s all you can ask from a goalie.
“I’ll go into my offseason training fired up and ready to go, ready for next year. But right now I have to stay sharp because you never know what can happen. Things can change any day. You stay sharp and keep practicing hard and be ready in case my team needs me.”
You wonder how long that might be for.
Moving on?
The Knights certainly haven’t been shy about moving on from established players, goalies included. You have to believe with the emergence of Hart, especially if he continues to play this well and the team wins another Cup, Vegas might at least entertain the thought of looking into possible moves that could be made with Hill. He’s not stressing over it.
“Honestly, I’m just trying to focus on our team right now,” he said. “Just get the job finished. Whatever happens in the summer happens in the summer.
“If Carter needs anything, I’m there for him. I also don’t want to get in his way. Just let him do his thing. For me, it’s all about battling against the guys in practice.”
He has the right attitude and it can’t be easy. He’s a competitor. Wants to play. Wants to be on the ice.
Why wouldn’t he?
Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing, can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney on X.
