Andrew Bell
The Arizona Coyotes and Interim General Manager Steve Sullivan signed goaltender Adin Hill to a one-year, one-way contract on Tuesday.
In 13 games played this past season, Hill went 2-4-3 with a 2.62 goals against average and a .918 save percentage. In three seasons at the NHL level, he is 10-12-3 with a .907 save percentage and a 2.81 GAA in 30 games played.
Hill has bounced up and down between the Coyotes and the organization’s American Hockey League affiliate in Tucson, mostly filling in for goaltenders Antti Raanta or Darcy Kuemper at the NHL level when either goalie has suffered injuries over the past couple of seasons.
When Hill and Kuemper both went down this year, Hill came in and won two of his first four starts. His best outing came later on Feb. 11 when he racked up 38 saves (a season-high) against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 20 games with the AHL’s Roadrunners in 2019-20, Hill was 15-5 with a 2.40 GAA.
The interesting part of this move is it opens the door for the Coyotes to trade either Kuemper or Raanta if they elect to do so. Raanta has one year left on his contract and is a proven starter when healthy. However, he has played just 92 games over three seasons since being acquired by the organization in 2017.
Kuemper meanwhile, has blossomed into one of the best goalies in the league and would likely be in Vezina Trophy (best goalie in the NHL) contention if not for a mid-season lower body injury.
If the Coyotes trade Darcy Kuemper or Antti Raanta, Adin Hill is a leading candidate to serve as the NHL backup next season. https://t.co/FaspOSuyKE
— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) September 15, 2020
He was the Coyotes best player in the postseason, making 305 saves over nine games against the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche. Many teams are in need of goaltending, and Kuemper is certainly a hot commodity. If he or Raanta is moved, Hill would be the most qualified option to step in as the backup.
