1:57 PM: Coach Pete DeBoer has added some mystery to the situation. Despite ESPN’s reporting and corroboration from other media sources, when asked about Lehner’s situation DeBoer stated that the reports of Lehner undergoing season-ending surgery are not accurate “to his knowledge.” He said that he expects Lehner to be at practice tomorrow. This is certainly an unexpected development, and a situation that we will keep updating as more information becomes available.
1:11 PM: As the Vegas Golden Knights look to make the playoffs over this final stretch of the season, they now will have to do so without their starting goaltender. ESPN’s Emily Kaplan has reported that Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner‘s season is over, as he has opted to undergo surgery for a major knee injury he suffered against Philadelphia last month. Lehner had attempted to play through that injury over the past month but has finally made the choice to end his season to get started on the recovery process.
This was the 30-year-old Lehner’s first season as the Golden Knights’ unquestioned starting goalie thanks to the offseason departure of Marc-Andre Fleury, and Lehner finishes his season having posted mixed results. His .907 save percentage over 44 games played ranks 30th in the NHL, and his inconsistency has been a factor in the Golden Knights’ struggles this season. He has had games where he has shown the brilliance that made him a Vezina Trophy finalist in 2018-19, but has also had games where he has looked off and struggled to make expected saves. The Golden Knights are committed to him financially, as he holds a contract worth $5MM against the cap through 2024-2025, but coach Pete DeBoer’s comments and Lehner’s struggles to fill Fleury’s shoes leave questions about his long-term future in Vegas’ crease.
With Lehner out, the fate of the Golden Knights’ season now rests in the hands of goaltender Logan Thompson. The undrafted Thompson, 25, has earned the trust of coach Pete DeBoer in recent weeks and has posted a sterling .920 save percentage in 15 games this season. While the former Brandon Wheat King was stopping pucks in the ECHL as recently as 2019-20, it is his rapid rise through the ranks of Vegas’ organization that has put him in this position. He posted a .943 save percentage in 23 games last season for the Henderson Silver Knights and has a .920 in games at that level this season. Given the lofty expectations surrounding the Golden Knights, the entire organization has to be hopeful that Thompson can continue that run of success into Vegas’ next four games and save their season.
“Kerrr-THUD!” – The sound of the 2021-2022 VGK season. Counting down to Bill Foley fixing things with a sledgehammer.
Buffalo Sabres fans really really really want pick #11!
Karma is a bi*** isn’t it…looks good on ya. De boer should be done yes i know injuries are a factor but buying players and going after a championship. Looks real good
So they shouldn’t be going after a Championship? Kind of the purpose of all of this.
seems like vegas owner wants to prove hes not cheap by buying the shiniest new toy over building a team
if i am an UFA telling my agent to avoid vegas
imagine if VGK still had Gallant and MAF…
Exactly. Well said
And just like that 1000s of fantasy playoffs hopefuls dropped Lehner only to quickly re-add him only to drop him again tomorrow
What a disaster of a contract. Vegas chased MAF out of town to keep him. There is a reason Lou didn’t want to keep him.
Way to go, Coach Pete! I didn’t think my digital voice carried that far! (More to come…) :)
Got greedy with dadonov. Should have brought in Fred andersson
There is no guarantee that success is permanent. The Gallant and MAF transactions were very poor choices. Now the Eichel trade will be scrutinized heavier, because of the track record of poor judgement and short term mindset. You have to have a team like tampa bay to buy a cup (referring to the LTIR cap trick). I read recently that there might have been a feeling among VGN brass that they could tweak their way to win the cup. I was pulling for the Knights, but now I’m hoping they miss the playoffs so they can really feel the sting. Go Flower! Go Gerard!!
Amazing that one coach will up for the coach of the year while the other is hoping to keep his job…Way to go Turk…
Man, what a series of missteps from this franchise over the last year. I get the idea behind trying to add as many stars as possible but they can’t even play them all at the same time and their lack of depth has really hurt them.
More than that, though, is intentionally downgrading in net and behind the bench. That has hurt them more than anything else. That being said, they still have a decent shot at the playoffs, so maybe it works out after all. Even if they do, though, their stock is low. Their goalie situation is a mess, Stone and Pacioretty look like shells of themselves, and they’re destined to face one of Colorado or Calgary in the first round – not good. On top of that, they’re limited on options if they miss the playoffs or get knocked out quick. A mess!
Its all Kelly McCrimmon gets rid of a well liked coach replaces him with his buddy little peter And then brings in a goalie he likes to compete against the 7 mil man…He is a ass and so is the owner plain and simple…