LAS VEGAS -- When Adin Hill found out he was acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights last August, he looked at the lineup he'd be joining.
"You're like, they can win the (Stanley) Cup," the goalie said Friday. "Kind of my first thought was, 'Hey, were going to be in the playoffs and we're going to have a chance at this thing.' I was very excited when I did get traded, to come to an organization with as good of a team as Vegas. We're here."
They are, and Hill's play in his first NHL postseason is a big reason why the Golden Knights will vie for the Cup for the second time in their six-season history when they play the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; TNT, TBS, truTV, CBC, SN, TVAS).
The 27-year-old, who was acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on Aug. 29, 2022, for a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, took over for starter Laurent Brossoit when the latter sustained a lower-body injury in the first period of Vegas' 5-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the Western Conference Second Round on May 8.
Hill has dominated since, going 7-3 with a 2.07 goals-against average, .937 save percentage and two shutouts, the second coming when he made 23 saves in a 6-0 win to eliminate the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of the conference final on May 29.
Hill said he's always "had a quiet confidence in myself," which is evident to those around him.
"He's always had that demeanor about him since he came over from San Jose," Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud said. "He's been one of those guys who competes in practice, wants to get better, wants to play well for his teammates. Of course, all of us do, but there's a genuine drive there to want to be good at his craft and it's been cool to see with the more responsibility he's gotten to take that over and just find his way as the guy he is now."
Hill's work in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is perhaps more impressive considering he was dealing with a lower-body injury at the end of the regular season. When he relieved Brossoit to start the third period of a 5-1 loss to Edmonton in Game 2 on May 6, Hill hadn't played since March 7.
"When he first came in, obviously it's tough after missing a lot of time, but he came in and didn't miss a beat. He was making big saves for us," Vegas forward Reilly Smith said. "And he's one of those goalies where, when he's feeling it, he's really tough to beat and I think that's where his game is at right now."
A third-round pick by the Arizona Coyotes (No. 76) at the 2016 NHL Draft, Hill is 45-39-6 with a 2.67 GAA, .910 save percentage and five shutouts in 88 career games with the Coyotes, Sharks and Golden Knights. The 25 games he started during the regular season were the most in his NHL career, but he's clearly found his groove during the playoffs.
"I feel it's kind of stuff I've been working on for five or six years finally kind of coming together," he said. "But also, we have a great defensive team here too. I think we have the best [defense] core in the League, so when you have that, it makes a goalie's job a little easier.
"I don't know … I feel we have a good chance going into every game no matter who we're playing."
Sure, Vegas' defense is strong and has played well throughout the postseason, leading all playoff teams with 327 blocked shots. But when a big save has been needed, Hill has been there. Often.
"I said it before, he's a great guy off the ice, he puts in his work on the ice," Golden Knights defenseman Alec Martinez said. "He did a lot to get healthy earlier this year and was playing some really good hockey before he went out. It's not easy to step in a situation like that, [but] he's handled it with flying colors.
"Someone asked me earlier and I'm certainly happy for him and his success, but I don't think anyone in the room was surprised about it. We know what he's capable of, and it's pretty cool to see a guy be put on a stage like this and him handling it the way he's done."
Hill is about to perform on the grandest stage, and even taking part in the festivities during Stanley Cup Final Media Day on Friday didn't faze him. Although, as he fielded questions, he said, "If I could right now, I'd just put on my skates and get on the ice."
That'll come again soon enough. When Hill takes the ice Saturday, it will be with the highest stakes of his career.
He's ready.
"There's a good belief in our group here," Hill said. "I think the first 5-10 minutes tomorrow will be huge, set the tone for the series. It's exciting.
"If you can't get up for tomorrow's game, I don't know what you can get up for, right?"
