Is Adin Hill The Next Goalie Extension? Insider Provides Update

Following the signing earlier on Thursday of Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger, the goaltender market is taking center stage once again. Could Adin Hill be the next one in line for an extension? He, too, is in the final year of his contract.

The Vegas Golden Knights puck-stopper is not quite in the same class as the Oettingers, Linus Ullmarks and Jeremy Swaymans of the world, who all signed their big extensions in the past couple of weeks. So an $8.25 million AAV, as all of the above signed, is not likely in the offing for Hill.

But hey, he did backstop the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup championship, is their unmistakable No. 1 at this point, and is due for a raise from the $4.9 million cap hit he's running out the season with.

However, according to insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, there are currently no talks underway between the two sides on a possible extension for Hill.

I talked to both sides this morning after Oettinger’s deal, (and) nothing has been going on this point, there’s nothing imminent. Conversations are expected to pick up in and around the New Year. Now, maybe Oettinger’s deal escalates things, but as of this morning, that’s kind of the mindset that they’ll tackle this towards the second half of the season, maybe just prior to it.

Last year, Hill was 19-12-2 in 35 starts for the Knights, with a .909 save percentage and a 2.71 goals-against average. His numbers the year before, in a more limited role, saw him post an excellent .915 Sv% with a 2.45 GAA, but in only 25 starts. In the playoffs, however, he went 11-4 and recorded a stunning .932 Sv% to lead Vegas to the Cup.

But fellow Fourth Period analyst Dennis Bernstein adds, "I just don't put him at that tier of these other guys that re-signed. But it's not necessarily his fault, it's also a function of how 'depthful' the Vegas team is."

As noted by Pagnotta, "If he does hit free agency this July... there may be some options for Adin Hill".