Robin Lehner has played on five different teams during his 10-year NHL career – he’s donned four different uniforms since 2018 alone – but the 2019 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy recipient finally has a permanent home with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Lehner was a pending unrestricted free agent but avoided going on the open market by signing a five-year contract extension for $ 25 million over the weekend.
The Golden Knights acquired Lehner from the Chicago Blackhawks in February. Lehner made three starts for Vegas and went 3-0-0 with a shutout before the NHL paused due to COVID-19.
The Swedish netminder stated during an appearance on Hockey Central Monday that the time off the rink during the unique extended break had helped him appreciate the Golden Knights franchise and its offerings.
“The break (plus Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the league’s return-to-play plan) gave me some time to be with teammates, get to know the organization better, and you start to like the idea, maybe at it stay a little, ”said Lehner. “You start talking here and there and we could find out here in the end.”
Lehner overtook Marc-Andre Fleury as the starter of the Golden Knights and nodded in 16 of the 20 postseason games in Vegas with a saving of 0.917 percent, 1.99 goals against the average and four exclusions.
The 29-year-old also played for the Ottawa, Buffalo Sabers and New York Islanders Senators and won a 2019 William M. Jennings Trophy as a Vezina finalist at the Isles.
“Each team was a special and unique experience,” added Lehner. “I appreciate each and every one of them because it all brought me here. I am now excited to be here in Vegas with a great team and organization and a chance to be competitive.
“It’s been a journey and you go through things and sometimes things are meant to be just like that.”
