The buzz around the strip isn’t just about the casinos. Mitch Marner landing in Las Vegas sent shockwaves through the hockey world and raised the bar for the Golden Knights’ 2025-26 campaign. Marner, at 28, didn’t just sign an eight-year, $96 million contract; he dove headfirst onto a line with Jack Eichel, making every defenseman in the division sit up and take notice.
But while fans are hyped about what Marner brings on offense, an even bigger question is building in the background: Will the Golden Knights finally shine a brighter light on their own goalie? For Adin Hill, respect is always just out of reach, and Vegas is about to see what happens when expectations get real.
Will the Golden Knights’ Netminder Finally Get the Recognition He Deserves?
Last season summed up the story again. Adin Hill put together a 32-13-5 record, locking in a 2.47 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage across 50 starts. Being fifth in wins among NHL goalies sounds pretty good, yet Hill’s name rarely pops up in any top-tier talk.
That split between what he does and how often people talk about it has been around for a while. Analysts talk about Vegas’ defensive style more than the guy actually making saves.
Plus, the Golden Knights are known for playing some of the tightest, most disciplined hockey out there. Still, Hill keeps them in games when things get tense, and not every clutch moment shows up on the stats page. Just watch his best stops in those critical moments.
When the Golden Knights brought Hill in from San Jose in 2022, nobody thought it would last. But injuries gave him a shot, and he turned that opening into the kind of run you never forget, backstopping Vegas to a first Stanley Cup in 2023.
Hill’s playoff run, with 11 wins, a 2.17 GAA, and a shiny .932 save percentage, shut down most of the side chatter.
The front office didn’t wait long to settle things, dropping a six-year, $37.5 million contract to make Hill the main man going forward. Even with paper backing, people still wonder if he’s the real deal.
How Could Goaltending Balance Shape Vegas’ Future?
This summer, the Knights’ defense suffered. Alex Pietrangelo is likely to step away, and Nicolas Hague is gone, leaving Hill exposed to more tough shots in big moments.
The workload is another story after Hill made 50 starts last season. In the playoffs, his save percentage slipped to .887, with a 2.93 GAA. Fans can’t help but wonder if carrying such a heavy load caught up to him, and what it means for a season staring down another deep run.
Hill’s history says he’s tough to bet against. He’s been traded twice and counted out more times than he can remember, but he always finds another level when nobody expects it.
His resilience will be under the spotlight once more. Vegas still lives by discipline, depth, and steady goaltending– with Marner now in the picture. If Marner and Eichel hit their stride, the Golden Knights have a real shot to cover defensive gaps before they become real problems.
Overall, the answer to whether Vegas sticks at the top of the NHL could be just how well Marner’s scoring and Hill’s stops balance out when the games really matter.