Subj : Golden Knights Re-Signing Lehner Has Merit
To : All
From : The Hockey Writers
Date : Sat Aug 01 2020 04:40 am
When the 2019-20 season finally wraps up, Robin Lehner will be one of the most
coveted unrestricted free agents on the market. The 29-year-old has split time
between the Chicago Blackhawks and Vegas Golden Knights throughout the
campaign, posting a combined record of 19-10-5 with a 2.34 goals-against
average (GAA) and a .929 save percentage (SV%). After a slew of one-year deals
with the Buffalo Sabres (2017-18), the New York Islanders (2018-19), and then
the Blackhawks (2019-20) the Swedish netminder will undoubtedly be looking for
a long term deal. And for more reasons than one, Vegas should be giving Lehner
that long term contract.
Reliable Relief for Fleury
Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon admitted that, prior to bringing
Lehner in, that they "didn't have confidence that we were as strong at that
position as we needed to be." (from Robin Lehner deal helps Golden Knights'
present, complicates future,'; Las Vegas Sun, 02/25/2020) Having relied on the
likes of Malcolm Subban behind Marc-André Fleury was simply not enough for a
team that looks to contend for the Cup year in and year out.
Robin Lehner, Vegas Golden Knights (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lehner is in the middle of his second straight standout season, proving that
that playoff run with the Islanders was anything but a fluke. The former Vezina
Trophy finalist ranks 11th in save percentage and 13th in goals-against
average among goalies who have played a minimum of 25 games this season. He
brings that momentum with him into this strange iteration of the playoffs,
where if Fleury slips up, it will fall on Lehner to carry the team to where
they know they can go.
For the Future
The fact of the matter is that Lehner is seven years younger than the incumbent
Fleury. While the newcomer Lehner is simply improving, Fleury has been
slipping in his all-around game. The Canadian just posted his worst save
percentage since 2009-10 at .906. When it comes to goals saved above average,
Lehner sits at 10.1 above average, whereas Fleury is at minus-6.3. The only
statistical category in which Fleury bests Lehner is in Stanley Cups won, with
a 3-0 advantage.
Related: 5 Best NHL Backups
As a perennial playoff power, it does make sense to stick with the proven
winner, but only to a point. With Fleury dropping off, and no obvious
succession plan, the Golden Knights would be remiss if they didn't entertain
the option of keeping the two, at least in a tandem situation, until Flower
retires.
Rob Peter to Pay Paul
It is almost a lock that the NHL salary cap will be frozen at $81.5 million due
to COVID-19, meaning that the Golden Knights are in a bind, whether they
choose to keep Lehner or not. While they have one of the most potent top-six
forward groups in the league, boasting the likes of Max Pacioretty, William
Karlsson, Reilly Smith, and Paul Stastny, keeping Lehner would most likely come
at one of their expenses. The obvious choice would be veteran Stastny, though
his $6.5 million cap hit would be a challenge to move.
The more likely option would be making a trade involving Smith and his $5
million cap hit. The initial reaction to moving one of the faces of the
franchise may not be an encouraging one, but when seen through the lens of
preparing for the future, it becomes hard to argue with. As previously
mentioned, Vegas has little in the way of a plan when it comes to replacing
Fleury, but they do have a plethora of young talent who could realistically
move up the lineup sooner rather than later.
Reilly Smith, Vegas Golden Knights (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Players like Peyton Krebs, who joined the team in training camp prior to them
flying into the Edmonton bubble. Krebs is coming off of an electric run with
the WHL';s Winnipeg Ice, racking up 68 points in 64 games in 2018-19. If he
isn't ready to step in, skilled third liners like Nicolas Roy might be able to
move up through the lineup, making losing a forward to sure up the crease seem
like a no-brainer.
Devil';s Advocate
For all the reasons for Vegas to keep Lehner and offer him his first multi-year
deal since the three-year contract he signed with the Ottawa Senators in 2014,
there are valid points to be made as to why he was just a rental.
Related: Kings'; 5 Best Goalie Tandems
The Golden Knights have Fleury under contract for two more seasons, which,
going by his career stats, means they should have at least two more seasons of
being Cup contenders. With this in mind, why should they give up a pivotal
top-six player who could help them potentially hoist Lord Stanley within that
two-year window?
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, David
Becker)
There's also the very valid factor that Vegas might not be able to offer Lehner
the playing time he wants. He has earned himself a starter role: over the past
four seasons, out of all goalies with 150 or more starts, only Ben Bishop and
John Gibson have better save percentages than Lehner's .920. Lehner could very
well decide that he doesn't want to share the crease with Fleury as he did with
Thomas Greiss in New York, let alone be a backup. Elements like this, that
Vegas won't be willing to budge on, could eliminate the possibility of Lehner
finding long-term security in Sin City.
The post Golden Knights Re-Signing Lehner Has Merit appeared first on The
Hockey Writers.
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