Retaining Adin Hill Was A Mistake By Golden Knights
Can the Vegas Golden Knights actually repeat? It’s not something that happens often but it’s hard to be super optimistic about their chances. Yes, Vegas will be very good once again and brings back 99% of their team that just won the Stanley Cup. However, Vegas made a key mistake this offseason. One they will likely live to regret. Retaining Adin Hill was a mistake and this front office let their emotions get the best of them.
This offseason should have been so straightforward for Vegas (link to offseason preview here). Instead, they made things complicated and watched everyone else around them get better.
Dallas adds Matt Duchene.
The LA Kings trade for Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Edmonton adds Connor Brown.
Vegas loses Reilly Smith.
Am I supposed to pretend all is well? Am I supposed to pretend a couple of rookies can replicate what Smith brought to this team? To make matters worse, Vegas acquired the third round pick they gave away for Teddy Blueger in the deal for Smith. On paper, that makes zero sense. The trade itself stinks and there is no way around it.
It should have been so easy. Dump Robin Lehner, and get that Ivan Barbashev contract done (which happened). There was just no reason to hand this kind of money to Hill. Not when it costs you Smith. Not when the guy has almost zero track record of success beyond this past year.
Go look at all the veteran goalies that signed for dirt cheap. I’ll just name a few; Laurent Brossoit, James Reimer, Cam Talbot, and Antti Raanta all signed for dirt cheap deals. Vegas’ front office has basically said to themselves they’re better with Pavel Dorofeyev and Hill over Brossoit and Smith. I just don’t buy their argument.
For this deal to make any sense, Adin Hill needs to start 50 games and be a top five goalie in the league. Keep in mind, the VGK have All-Star Logan Thompson already on the roster. Paying a second goalie just made no sense. It’s a deal Vegas will regret. Breaking up the misfits should be deemed as unforgivable. Especially when running it back just made way more sense after a Stanley Cup victory.
