The Golden Knights made a late change to their roster ahead of tonight’s home game against Ottawa, recalling goaltender Cameron Whitehead from AHL Henderson and sending Jonas Røndbjerg back down in a corresponding move.
Whitehead is set to back up Adin Hill after Carter Hart left practice earlier today with what appeared to be an injury. That leaves Vegas able to avoid using emergency backup Daren Millard, 56, who serves as the team’s television broadcast host.
Because Henderson is not playing tonight, the Knights were able to bring Whitehead up without disrupting their AHL club. In situations like this, teams sometimes lean on a fourth goaltender to preserve roster stability, and passing over Carl Lindbom - who already has eight NHL games on his résumé - may point in that direction.
Still, Whitehead has put together a strong start in the minors, posting a .944 save percentage in three games. The 128th overall pick in the 2022 draft is earning his first NHL call-up, with the hope that Hart’s absence won’t last long.
The Ontario native came out of Northeastern University, where he put up a .914 save percentage across 70 college games and helped the Huskies win the Beanpot tournament as a freshman.
Røndbjerg, meanwhile, heads back to Henderson after being on the move the other way to make room. The 27-year-old depth forward has been part of Vegas’ inaugural draft class for nearly a decade and has appeared in 80 NHL games for the club, recording 11 points.
At the AHL level, the Denmark native has been a steady but modest scorer, never topping 28 points in a season for Henderson. He was brought up yesterday but did not get into a game, and he’ll return to his familiar role as a reliable two-way veteran in the minors.
With injuries sometimes forcing movement on the forward side, the Knights could call on him again before long.
For Whitehead, it’s a notable moment. For Hart, the next few days will tell the story.
Vegas is back on the ice Friday night against New Jersey, and tonight gives Hill another chance to keep building after a roughest professional season. So far, the 30-year-old has won four of his five starts while carrying a 2.95 goals-against average.
In Other News...
Golden Knights Suddenly Have A Goalie Question They Didn't Expect
A routine morning skate turned into an unexpected moment of concern when Carter Hart left the ice after appearing to tweak something while making a butterfly save during a drill. The Golden Knights did not offer any immediate specifics beyond saying he is being evaluated, but it was enough to create a sudden wrinkle at a position Vegas had not been expecting to revisit this quickly.
Bruce Cassidy has already shifted to Adin Hill for the upcoming game against the Ottawa Senators, giving the Golden Knights at least one clear answer for the moment. What comes next with Hart is still unclear, and for a team that leans heavily on stability in goal, any uncertainty there is worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Suddenly Have A Goalie Problem They Didn't Expect
The morning skate on Tuesday brought an unexpected turn for the Golden Knights, who suddenly have to sort out their crease with Carter Hart leaving early because of an apparent injury. Hart had been penciled in as the starter, but his day-to-day status forced Vegas to pivot quickly as it prepared for its next game, a reminder of how fast the most stable part of a roster can become unsettled.
Adin Hill is now expected to get the start against the Ottawa Senators, giving Vegas a familiar answer for at least one night while the staff evaluates Harts status. If the situation worsens, Carl Lindbom could be in line for NHL playing time, adding another layer to a situation the Golden Knights did not anticipate this close to game time. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Already Face A Familiar Question After Hot Start
The Golden Knights have put together an 8-4-1 start that has them sitting among the NHLs top five teams, a position that usually comes with a little less anxiety than excitement this early in the season. Even with a recent three-game skid, capped by an overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, there is no real panic around the room, only a reminder that strong starts still have to be protected through the grind of the schedule.
Brayden McNabb said the focus has to stay on the group playing as one unit, which is the same message teams lean on when the wins come early and the questions start to follow. Vegas knows the bigger picture is still in front of it, but after a hot opening, the next stretch will be about proving the pace was a sign of something sustainable rather than just a fast first chapter. [Read more 🡒]