Hill’s Cap Hit Will Probably Be Higher Than Expected

What will Adin Hill sign for? It might be more than you expect.

The San Jose Sharks acquired the 25-year-old RFA from the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday, sending prospect Josef Korenar and a 2022 second-round pick for Hill and a 2022 seventh-round pick.

While Hill made just $800,000 last year — not to mention that he’s been an back-up for the first four seasons of his NHL career — he looks to be in line for a big bump in pay.

Historically, RFA back-ups who are tabbed to be starters or at least a 1A/1B goalie receive significant raises.

And while we don’t know Hill’s role for the San Jose Sharks yet, judging by the draft capital paid, it’s going to be a big one. You don’t trade second-round picks for No. 3 netminders or pure back-ups.

Why Adin Hill? Doug Wilson Explains | SJHN+

So let’s assume that the San Jose Sharks see Hill as a likely starter/1A/1B goalie in 2021-22.

Per Puckpedia, here are all the post-pandemic goaltender signings who were restricted free agents with zero or minimal NHL starting experience when signed.

What’s one thing that may bring down Hill’s AAV?

At the time these RFA goalies signed their new contracts — except for Hill and KHL import Ilya Sorokin — they had all played at least 30-plus games in a single NHL season. In other words, they already had proven starter/1A/1B experience.

The most NHL games that Hill has played in a year? 2020-21’s 19.

Regardless, Hill looks to be in line for at least a $2 million dollar AAV, more if he signs a longer contract. Keep in mind too, Hill has arbitration rights — that’ll help his cause.

Hill’s camp can also turn to San Jose Sharks history for a very close-to-home comp.

In the summer of 2015, Doug Wilson sent a first-round pick to Boston for Martin Jones. Up to that point in Jones’s career, he had played just 34 NHL games over two seasons, albeit with an exemplary .923 Save %.

Wilson inked his starter-to-be to a three-year, $9 million dollar contract — or 4.2 percent of the-then $71.4 million salary cap. 4.2 percent of the current $81.5 million cap is a $3.42 million cap hit.

So much depends on the role that the San Jose Sharks envision for Hill. If they see him as a pure back-up goalie, I suspect he’ll be paid as such. But I doubt San Jose surrendered a second-round pick for a back-up — I guess Hill will be very pleased with his new contract.