Power ranking the remaining Vegas Golden Knights UFAs on their possibility of staying

Adin Hill got a nice six-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday. He's getting paid $6.25 million every season until 2031 and rightfully so. He has a GAA of 2.53 and a save percentage of .906 entering Saturday's contest against the Buffalo Sabres.

Anybody who plays lights-out hockey deserves a contract extension courtesy of Kelly McCrimmon. The general manager has been in a giving mood this season, handing out deals to stars like Shea Theodore and Brett Howden. Who could be next?

Could it be Ilya Samsonov? Reilly Smith? The Golden Knights better leave cookies and milk out for Santa McCrimmon. Otherwise, you're getting coal on the ice.

Such a thing calls for a closer examination on who should stay. It starts with the player least likely to stick around since they're useless. Fans will know who's being talked about here. No, he's not an "Original Misfit," either.

For this fun activity, restricted free agents are excluded from the list. Generally, they return with a new deal in hand, especially if they're under the McCrimmon umbrella. Fans know he doesn't want to let his younger players go, after all. Imagine if the general manager let Pavel Dorofeyev walk with ensuing riots happening.

So let's dive into the list and see which unrestricted free agents after this season can stick around. Who's the likeliest player to join the re-sign brigade and wear gold next season?

5.) Ilya Samsonov

Let's be honest here. It's likely Adin Hill finds a new backup next season. The Russian goaltender hasn't cut it this season. In fact, his last five starts have seen him surrender three goals or more four times. The only instance where he didn't? March 7 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

A cap hit of $1.8 million is fairly easy to swallow because of this. There won't be an urgent need for a backup netminder who has a wins above replacement of -0.09 (Adin Hill stands at 2.30). Why not upgrade with Jake Allen or Frederik Andersen?

4.) Tanner Pearson

The forward has done plenty of good since getting a one-year deal. He's scored 11 goals and 12 assists this season. That has earned him some time atop the top line alongside Jack Eichel and Mark Stone.

However, the issue with Pearson's predicament is there are countless bottom-six players on the free agency market. Kelly McCrimmon can simply find another player on the market to replace him, even if the story's good.

3.) Victor Olofsson

Olofsson has found his purpose on special teams with six goals and one assist on the power play this season. He's partially to thank for the Vegas Golden Knights being tied for second in the power play (29%).

But it's a similar problem to Tanner Pearson. The Swedish winger is expendable despite his production, making him an easy cut. That's especially true when it comes to $1.08 million for the cap hit. Still, don't count out Olofsson making his return next season.

2.) Reilly Smith

From a performance standpoint, it makes sense to bring Reilly Smith back. He's an excellent special teams player who makes plays away (Rhymes Like Dimes!) from the puck.

But it would also be a full-circle moment for the "Original Misfit." Fans love him and he's ingrained himself into the team's history. The 33-year-old gets to retire as a Golden Knights with a three-year, $3 million AAV deal? Winner winner chicken dinner.

1.) Brandon Saad

Like Smith, Brandon Saad could get a modest contract extension given his immaculate play in recent weeks. Entering Saturday's game against the Sabres, the winger has three goals and two assists in his last five games.

He's filled the void of a scoring middle-six winger nicely. That includes getting down and dirty for every puck while scoring with every different shot type. Such a bulldog-like mentality would make him valuable in the lower ranks, adding more offensive bite.