The NHL 4 Nations Face-Off doesn’t kick off until February and the rosters are yet to be determined. However, you can expect Golden Kights starting goaltender Adin Hill to be one of team Canada’s goaltenders.

The NHL’s new 4 Nations Face-Off tournament featuring the USA, Canada, Sweden and Finland will kick off this February in place of the annual NHL All-Star Game. The games will take place between February 12-20th. While the tournament is still 7 months away, it is never too early to speculate who will be representing their countries. One of the biggest questions for team Canada is, who will be in goal. While a lot of that will be based on performances during the season, one goaltender who is expected to make the club and possibly even the starter is the Adin Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights.

When Adin Hill was acquired by the Golden Knights from the San Jose Sharks back in August of 2022 in exchange for a 4th round draft pick, not much was made of the trade at the time. With goaltender Robin Lehner being out for the season, the Knights needed more goaltending depth to help out rookie goaltender Logan Thompson.

Adin Hill shared the net with Logan Thompson during the 22-23 season for the Knights, starting in 27 games. Hill ended up being a revelation for the Knights, going 16-7-1 and posting a .915 SV%. Come playoff time, Hill took the cage for Vegas and led the Knights to their 1st Stanley Cup in franchise history. During the Knights playoff run, Hill appeared in 16 games and finished the post season with an outstanding .923 SV% and 2 shutouts.

Now, with the trade of Logan Thompson to the Washington Capitals, Hill is expected to man the load in goal for the Golden Knights this coming season. Hill could also be the leading man for team Canada in goal.

While Canada boasts the most talent of the 4 countries involved in the tournament, their choices in goal aren’t nearly as deep as some of the other countries involved like team USA that features Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck, Jeremy Swayman, Jake Oettinger or Thatcher Demko. Sweden has the likes of Vezina winner Linus Ullmark and Jacob Markstrom.

Over the past many decades Canada had names the likes of Patrick Roy, Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, Marc-Andre Fleury and Carey Price represent the Canadian squad in international competitions. Now, goaltending is arguably the Canadians lone weakness.

Adin Hill will likely be competing with St. Louis Blues goaltender and Stanley Cup winner Jordan Binnington and the Edmonton Oilers youngster Stuart Skinner who came one win away from winning a Stanley Cup himself this past June.

You can make the case Hill has the leg up to be Canada’s starter. While Binnington rebounded last season for the Blues, the prior two seasons the 31 year-old struggled, finishing the 21-22 season with a .901 SV% and in 22-23 with a sub .900 save percentage of .894%. Skinner, 25, is the youngest of the trio, could certainly get the nod as well.

The aforementioned trio are a good bet to be the three goaltenders on the roster, the decision on who eventually makes the squad will largely depend on their performances during the regular season. However, as long as Hill continues to be the calming, reliable presence in goal for Vegas, he has a strong chance of being the guy come February.