Agent: Pending UFA Hill re-signing with Knights 'would be the best thing'
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill's coming-out party in the playoffs culminated in a Stanley Cup championship, and the pending unrestricted free agent is looking to keep the party going in Sin City.
"We're obviously going to give it the big college try to get him signed in Vegas," Hill's agent, Gerry Johannson, told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "I think that's always the goal when a guy likes it in a spot.
"We're keeping an eye on everything else, too, but if we can make it work in Vegas, that would be the best thing, right?"
Hill just played out the last season of a two-year, $4.35-million pact and is likely due for a raise after establishing himself as one of the most interesting names on the free-agent goalie market.
The Golden Knights turned to Hill in Game 3 of the second round following an injury to Laurent Brossoit. The 27-year-old went 11-4 the rest of the way with a sparkling .932 save percentage and 2.17 goals against average.
Hill has served as a backup goalie throughout his NHL career and posted a .915 save percentage in 27 regular-season appearances with Vegas last campaign.
Youngster Logan Thompson started the lion's share of the Golden Knights' regular-season games in 2022-23 and is signed for two more years. Like Hill, veteran Jonathan Quick - who Vegas scooped up prior to the trade deadline - and Brossoit can hit the open market on July 1 as unrestricted free agents.
The Golden Knights have just under $3.5 million of cap space, but that number can rise to almost $8.5 million, per CapFriendly, if netminder Robin Lehner remains on long-term injured reserve next season.
Lehner's NHL future is in doubt after he missed the entire 2022-23 campaign due to a hip injury. He has two seasons remaining on his current deal.
Vegas also has decisions to make up front, with forwards Ivan Barbashev, Teddy Blueger, and Phil Kessel set to hit free agency.