When the Golden Knights entered Training Camp most viewed it as a 1A/1B situation in the goal. Adin Hill returned with a new $10 million contract after posting a Conn Smythe-worthy performance in his 13 playoff games while Logan Thompson was back healthy for the first time since January looking to build off his All Star start to last season.
Both goalies have shown to be more than capable and the expectation was they’d work as a tandem at something close to a 50/50 split.
That’s not how it has played out through four games as both the words and actions of the coaching staff have declared Hill the starter and Thompson the backup.
You go into a new year and you are starting fresh but you can’t forget what happened. So there’s a little bit of tilt towards Hill if he came out of training camp the way he was playing and he has. We still want to give Logan his starts, and he’ll get them, just not as many as Adin right now. -Cassidy
Hill was given the start on Opening Night and then followed it up by playing the third and fourth games of the season. Thompson started the lone game in between and is likely to step back in tonight in Winnipeg. Hill would then be expected to take the reins on Saturday in Chicago and then there’s just one game before next weekend’s back-to-back.
If Hill gets the game on Tuesday the 24th, which he likely will, that would mean seven starts out of the first 10 games for Hill while Thompson gets just three.
Some of it is Hill has played a lot more recently even though it’s been months. Logan hasn’t played since the end of January. We want to make sure Hill gets his starts because he earned it at the end of last year. -Cassidy
The Golden Knights used a similar rotation last year to open the season, just vice versa with the man getting the bulk of the starts. Thompson started eight of the first 12 games and eventually saw the net in 35 of the first 51 games prior to the All Star break.
Health and performance will obviously dictate what happens over the course of the entire season, but as it stands right now, the Golden Knights have a preferred starter, and his name is Adin Hill.
Richie-Rich
I am showing Thompson as the “likely” starter tonight vs WPG. I could be wrong. Either will be fine with me.
Jailbird
Ok, another playoff team from last year looking for some payback maybe. Should be a tuff, close game. Where the hell is petro? Concussion? If just stitches then he should be back in there after almost a week!
Larry
Quite frankly I’ve been surprised at adin’s level of play.. happily so…hope Logan performs equally as well tonight in front of what is sure to be an electric early season jets crowd … while I’m a cotter guy I anticipate Pavel will play tonight with Karlsson and Howden back with stone and stephy.
Pistol Pete
Barbs-Eichel-Marchy
Cotter-Stevie-Stone
Howden-Karly-Amo
Carrier-Roy-Koley
Nabber-Theo
Haguer-Marty
Hutton-Pachal
LT
Will be super interesting to see Dorofeyev-Stephenson-Stone if and when that comes around. The last 17 games going back to his call-up after the All-Star break he has 7 G/3 A (.63 pts/game). His 2 games 2021-22 and 3 games early 2022-23 were zero points so his NHL career is 10 pts (+5) 22 games = .46 pts/game. A very small sample but encouraging to see the 17 game run. I remember thinking the way he scored that SO goal vs. the Wild that he was top six potential for sure.
I like Paul and think he’s good soldier and hockey player. Hope he thrives on that second line but he needs to make the most of the opportunity.
Pistol Pete
That was a sweet play Stevie-Cotter-Stevie for the goal in the Ducks game. That was Paul’s one point in the four games and exactly the kind of playmaking that could keep him on that line.
Pistol Pete
When Howden was suspended Cassidy put Cotter
on the Stephenson line and Dorofeyev with Karlsson. Since it’s now been three games in a row for Cotter on that line it makes sense to leave him there for a larger sample vs. putting Howden back on that line (when he returned for his suspension) and moving Cotter down to the Karlsson line. More time to see how Paul works out on the Stephenson line. Those three games saw low production however…just one goal by Stephenson and two assists (one on a PP), one assist by Stone and one by Cotter. Cassidy may want move Howden back onto that line ultimately. If Dorofeyev gets his next game with Karlsson I wonder if Cassidy will put him on RW and Amadio on the left. Pav did his best as RW on that line last season.
Pistol Pete
In reviewing SinBin’s lines history, Dorofeyev played RW for most of his games with Karlsson and is probably when he got most if not all of his points. This suggests he’s more accustomed to playing RW though he shoots left. This is not uncommon. If I am on the right track here (no pun intended lol) it has not helped his two preseason and two regular season games to have played on the left. Not sure what he played in Henderson. He played RW over there if my assumptions are
correct.
Arnold Rothstein
it’s back up
vs
back up,
odds favor LB in this one !
hdbiker7851
Ken – I am not sure your deductive logic concerning the goalie situation at this moment serves a useful or any meaningful purpose. I guess if you needed something to write about that could be you motivation, however, while deductive logic at times makes a great deal of sense not sure it applies now. Go Knights go regardless of who is 1 A or 1B and hopefully they both remain healthy.
TS
HILL earned his #1 spot in last season”s playoffs. LT is a HUGE plus..he has his A game going again. What a great duo, and knowing both have the winning attitude is a RELIEF. Just hope the two stay healthy all season– NO INJURY BUGS. PLEASE.