Carl Lindbom’s new deal has changed the look of the Vegas Golden Knights’ crease, and it may have put Adin Hill squarely on the trade block.
The Golden Knights signed Lindbom to a three-year extension at $900,000 AAV, a move that positions him as the goalie of the future. He should also see backup reps down the line as Vegas prepares for him to take a larger role in the crease. For Golden Knights fans, that’s the upside.
The downside is what it means for Hill. With Lindbom now firmly in the picture, Hill’s spot looks less secure than it did before.
That’s not a tiny issue, either. Hill is carrying a $6.25 million AAV cap hit, and Vegas would have to navigate his 10-team no-trade list to get a deal done. Even with those complications, the Golden Knights still could decide to move him, and Lindbom’s extension only adds more heat to that possibility.
Hill’s on-ice numbers from this past season explain why the conversation is even happening. He finished with a 3.04 GAA and an .871 save percentage, and lower-body injuries limited him to 27 games. Carter Hart also played well up to the Stanley Cup Final, which only deepens the pressure on Hill’s place in the mix.
Lindbom, meanwhile, has the edge in a lot of the usual tiebreakers. He’s younger, he’s already had some NHL exposure, and he has fresher legs. Hill has dealt with leg issues during his time in Vegas, and that has kept him off the ice at times.
There’s also the salary-cap piece of this. General manager Kelly McCrimmon has a reputation for keeping costs in check, whether that means retaining salary in a trade or landing a player on a team-friendly deal like Brett Howden’s. Paying a $6.25 million AAV goaltender while Lindbom is being groomed on a $900,000 AAV deal does not fit that mold.
Lindbom still needs more NHL exposure to get used to the pace, and moving Hill would be one way to make that happen. Akira Schmid could also be part of the discussion, since he is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights, but his situation is not as severe because he proved he could handle the job last season.
For now, the attention is on Hill and a crowded goaltending room. McCrimmon likes value, whether it’s in net or on the wing, and that reality makes the Stanley Cup hero the likeliest name to keep sweating this offseason. If Hill goes, Lindbom’s path to the backup role opens even wider.
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Dylan Larkins name has quickly moved to the front of the rumor mill, and the Golden Knights are among the teams watching closely. The Red Wings center is drawing interest from multiple contenders, with Vegas joined by the Florida Panthers and Dallas Stars in the pursuit as clubs try to gauge whether Detroit will even entertain moving a player who sits at the center of its plans.
For Vegas, the larger concern is that the chase is suddenly looking crowded and harder to control. Steve Yzerman has offered no guarantees on a possible trade request, which keeps every option on the table for Detroit and leaves the Golden Knights trying to read a market that could swing fast if the situation changes. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Extend Carl Lindbom And Signal A Bigger Crease Plan
The Golden Knights have locked in another piece of their organizational pipeline by extending Carl Lindbom on a three-year deal, a move that keeps one of their better young goaltending bets in the fold as the team continues sorting out its long-range picture in the crease. Lindbom got a brief look in Vegas last season, but his steadier work came with the Henderson Silver Knights, where he looked far more comfortable and reinforced why the organization views him as more than just depth.
For a club that has had to think carefully about succession in net, the timing matters as much as the contract itself. The extension also keeps Lindbom waiver-exempt for the 2026-27 season, which gives the Golden Knights flexibility while they decide how quickly to push him upward, and it signals that the next step could be a larger one, possibly even a future backup role in Vegas. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Just Lost A Scorer They Couldnt Afford To Keep
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What makes the move sting for Vegas is the timing and the cap picture around it. The club now has roughly $12.55 million to address four roster spots, and finding a way to replace Dorofeyevs production will not be simple, whether the answer comes through a big swing on the market or a series of smaller repairs. For a team that has built its identity on staying competitive, this is the sort of subtraction that can ripple well beyond one lineup card. [Read more 🡒]