Knights’ goalie depth to be tested with Adin Hill sidelined by injury

The Golden Knights are about to find out how good their goaltending depth is. Starter Adin Hill is week to week with a lower-body injury, coach Bruce Cassidy said Wednesday.

Hill will not travel on the Knights’ upcoming three-game road trip that begins Saturday against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

The 29-year-old left midway through the first period of his team’s win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday after trying to make a save. Hill was unable to put weight on his left leg and needed to be helped back to the bench and locker room.

He previously left after the first period of the Knights’ win over the Calgary Flames on Oct. 14 because of a lower-body injury.

Hill’s injury came the same day the Knights said captain Mark Stone was week to week with a wrist injury.

Next man up

Backup goaltender Akira Schmid stopped 42 of the 43 shots he faced in his two relief appearances. Schmid, 25, is 4-0-0 with an .899 save percentage and 2.57 goals-against average this season.

Schmid is 6-0-1 in seven appearances with the Knights since being called up from the Silver Knights in April.

“He’s going to play more. That’s the adjustment he’ll need to get used to,” Cassidy said. “He’s a guy who’s in more of a support role and now he knows he’s going to be in there a little more often. If you ask him, I’m sure that’s what he wants.”

The Knights recalled Carl Lindbom from Henderson on Wednesday. The 22-year-old will likely make his NHL debut this weekend, as the team plays the Tampa Bay Lightning a day after facing the Panthers.

“I’m just focused on being ready when my name gets called and when they need me,” Lindbom said. “I do believe I’ll be ready and that’s my mindset going in.”

Lindbom, a 2021 seventh-round pick, is 1-0-1 with a .958 save percentage with the Silver Knights this season.

“We think he’s a legitimate prospect,” Cassidy said. “He’s a great kid, he works hard. He’ll do everything he can to prepare himself.”

Lindbom and Schmid spent most of last season in Henderson together. The two already have a solid rapport.

“We had a great thing going last year,” Lindbom said. “We had a good partnership and he’s such a nice dude.”

The Golden Knights signed goaltender Carter Hart, who was acquitted of sexual assault in July, for additional depth Oct. 16, but he is ineligible to play until Dec. 1.

Reverting back

Hill’s injury comes after he appeared to be turning the corner health-wise.

He made a career-high 50 starts last season with a .906 save percentage and 2.47 goals-against average. Hill made 60 appearances the previous two years combined.

His latest injury could hinder his chances of playing for Canada at the Winter Olympics in Italy in February. He was his country’s backup during the 4 Nations Face-Off in February 2025.

Hill, the starter for most of the Knights’ championship run in 2023, is in the first season of the six-year, $37.5 million extension he signed in March.

In other injury news, the team placed defenseman Noah Hanifin on injured reserve. Hanifin has missed six games with a lower-body injury. Silver Knights captain Jaycob Megna was called up in a corresponding move.

Left wing Brett Howden was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice after missing four games with a lower-body injury. He will likely return to the lineup Saturday.

Cassidy said it’s good to see the Knights’ depth get tested early. It’s on Schmid and Lindbom to take advantage of their opportunities.

“It’s great when that happens. It shows you have good depth and the other guys are ready to accept the extra responsibility,” Cassidy said. “That’s a good thing to have in the room.”

Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.