The Golden Knights enter Season 10 with a goalie situation familiar to how they’ve started each of the last four years. Carter Hart, after starting all 22 games in the playoffs, is the clear starter, while Adin Hill will serve as his backup. Last season, Hill was the starter with Schmid behind him; the year before it was Hill and Thompson; and the year VGK won the Cup started with Thompson starting over Hill.
Through it all, the man behind the decisions has not changed. Director of Goaltending Sean Burke took the job before the 2022-23 season and remains in that position for this season.
His history has clearly shown that he favors one goalie over another but uses both consistently, even when there are not back-to-back games on the schedule. Based on the previous four seasons, it seems like his preferred split is around 65% to the starter and 35% to the backup. He also swaps goalies every time there’s a back-to-back, even in the event of injury.
First 20 Games
2022-23
Starter: 13
Backup: 7
B2Bs: 1
2023-24
Starter: 12
Backup: 8
B2Bs: 3
2024-25
Starter: 13
Backup: 7
B2Bs: 2
2025-26
Starter: 13
Backup: 7
B2Bs: 3
Things got a little hairy last season when Adin Hill suffered an injury that forced him to miss a game, then returned, and was immediately forced back out for a few months. Through that, Burke (and Cassidy at the time) continued to rotate goalies, using Carl Lindbom eight times in a 17-game span before Carter Hart was eligible to play.
In VGK’s first 20 games this season, there are two back-to-backs, both with consecutive road games. Hill be likely in net for the second of those, on October 13th at Nashville and November 3rd at Pittsburgh. Hart certainly has the home opener and probably will be right back in there for the second game of the season three nights later against Anaheim. Then, there will likely be a rotation that should look something like this…
9/29 vs CHI – Hart
10/2 vs ANA – Hart
10/4 at VAN – Hill
10/6 at SEA – Hart
10/8 vs TOR – Hart
10/10 vs LAK – Hill
10/12 at MIN – Hart
10/13 at NSH – Hill
10/15 vs CGY – Hart
10/17 vs PIT – Hart
10/20 vs TBL – Hart
10/22 at STL – Hill
10/24 at CBJ – Hart
10/27 vs OTT – Hart
10/30 vs NJD – Hill
11/2 at BOS – Hart
11/3 at PIT – Hill
11/5 at DET – Hart
11/8 at BUF – Hill
11/11 vs UTA – Hart
From there, it’ll be up to the two goalies to decide who takes the baton and runs with it as the starter moving forward. Burke will probably stick with the 65/35 rotation as often as he can, which would mean about 55 starts for one guy if he stays healthy and remains the starter all season.
Since Burke took the job, Hill’s 24-25 campaign is the only time a goalie has started 50 games for the Golden Knights. In franchise history, Marc-Andre Fleury’s 61 in 2018-19 is the only other time a goalie has surpassed 50. With the extra two games and a clear starter/backup hierarchy to start this season, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if Carter Hart reaches that plateau this year.
Knights fan in minny
Chris Crider contract terminated by the Ducks
Emmanuel
By mutual agreement.
There goes their (already thin) depth.
This gives the Kings the edge on the 3rd playoff slot.
vgk21
it says he wants to go back to the east coast, so I doubt he has Vgk in mind
“Kreider has indicated he desires to return east, closer to family where he spent the first 13 years of his career, and will not report if claimed somewhere he prefers not to play.”
Pistol Pete
35 year-old LW Chris Kreider agrees to be waived will get paid $4m. Career 30 goals per 82 games 22 each of last two seasons 6’3” 232. Despite the back east rumors would not surprise if he wants to play here.
Kreider-Hertl-Olofsson
“Chris Kreider is known for combining elite speed with his large physical frame, though his explosive skating and net-front presence are often what stand out most. “
“Standing at 6-foot-3 and over 220 pounds, the veteran forward uses his size effectively in gritty areas, particularly as an elite net-front presence on the power play where he screens goalies and scores tip-in goals. While analysts note that he may not play as overtly bruising a style as he did earlier in his career, his physical stature and strength remain key elements of his overall game. For more on his current career status and team fit,”
Pistol Pete
Numerous fights in his career a big bruising guy. Not much happened during this one entertaining it was with P.K.!
https://youtu.be/OSjs4_9xK0w?is=-AMuXpPX-Yfe8m7O
I am guessing of course but assuming they can find the cap space for it this is a no-brainer for McCrimmon and McPhee!
Pistol Pete
After looking more into this a team will not claim a player of this stature on waivers unless he wants to go to your team as it creates a mess if the player refuses to report to camp. Kreider has stated he wants to go back east. McCrimmon can always ask I guess.
Vic
Hellebuyck please.
Emmanuel
Instead of a #1, rotate ‘em. Ignore “hot streaks”.
vgk21
no way….
you win, you’re in
you lose, you snooze
vgk21
Hill vs LA Kings?
remember game 1 last season, when the Vgk scored 5 goals at home against LA , but it still was not enough cuz Hill gave up SIX in a very disappointing and Hill season foreshadowing loss.
Paula L. Scheele
We need a starting goalie. This is no secret and should have been shopping middle of last year. The 2 we use most can not be trusted in clutch situations. This was shown last year numerous times. We need another goalie.
Pistol Pete
I have seen quite a few folks here seem to forget how decent Hill can be. McCrimmon and McPhee both concede he had a subpar year last season due to injuries. Listen to these guys they are usually spot on.
Personally I very much doubt they spring for the aging and sometimes inconsistent almost always inconsistent in the playoffs Hellebuyck. We’ll be fine with Hill/Hart and Lindbom waiting in the wings.
Pistol Pete
So the key to the Kreider waivers is no team claiming him his contract is terminated, becomes a UFA and can be signed to a new and presumably lower contract. I thought his contract was $5m and since the Ducks already paid $1m bonus it’s down to $4m but I have seen as high as $6.5m quoted. He is still a good player imo but it does seem he might go unclaimed enabling a team to sign him for less. Too bad he wants to go east VGK could use him.
Pistol Pete
Now that he’s cleared waivers let’s see if McCrimmon can make him an offer inviting him to play on a real contender for that last shot of his to win a Cup. Things like moving back east can wait!
Pistol Pete
Meant to mention moving Dowd to free up the cap.