The Vegas Golden Knights are suddenly without a goalie. The team announced today that Robin Lehner will miss the entire 2022-23 season after determining that he will require hip surgery. No timeline for his recovery has been given yet, other than the fact he is no longer an option for the rapidly-approaching campaign.
This news follows Lehner’s previous shoulder surgery in May, which ended his season early. At the time, there were reports that he was dealing with multiple issues, including a serious hip injury, though the decision to have another procedure was certainly not expected at this point in the offseason. The Golden Knights, who have made several cap moves this summer including shedding Max Pacioretty’s deal for no return, are now basically down to Logan Thompson as a realistic NHL option.
Laurent Brossoit, the team’s backup that was signed to a two-year, $4.65MM contract before last season, also underwent hip surgery earlier this year and is not guaranteed to be ready for the start of the year. Thompson and Michael Hutchinson are the only two other netminders in the organization with any NHL experience.
While it means that Lehner’s contract can be moved to long-term injured reserve, something the Golden Knights were already using after acquiring Shea Weber’s contract, there are now just two months left to the start of the season, and not a lot of capable starting options available. Thompson had a late-season breakout this year with a .914 save percentage in 19 appearances but the undrafted netminder’s career experience to just 20 NHL games. There’s no telling how he would react to carrying the starter’s load for a whole year, even if he has performed admirably in the minor leagues.
The question for Lehner now becomes whether or not his career will continue after this lost season, as major hip surgeries can often derail a goaltender’s performance even after they are medically cleared to return.
Let’s see McCrimmon work his GM magic now.
SJ has plenty of goalies signed and could be a trade partner.
Maybe Brayden Holtby can make a come back
allegedly he’s also expected to miss the season.
So does CBJ
Not really.
1. Elvis
2. Korpi coming off hip surgery
3. Tarasov, also coming off hip surgery and likely untouchable
4. Jet Greaves (not even 1/2 season at AHL)
Are you thinking of someone else?
Where’s David Ayres ? is he still driving Zamboni !
@G – Bad news, he got pulled over for doing 15 in a 5 zone. And, he did the unthinkable – played the “Do you know who I am???” card. Not pretty…
:(
So…why did they extend him again?
Hindsight: Never should have traded MAF. They had a goalie glut several years ago, now this! OUCH !
VGK are hard to figure out anyways. Must be the dry air out in the desert.
@DarkSide830 – Flower’s mobility was compromised by Allan Walsh’s stray cutlery. He couldn’t go post-to-post like he used to. ;)
I think the Sabres would be willing to send the VGK either UPL or Anderson for a non protected 1st.
Anderson for a non protected 1st? You’d be lucky to get a 7th Rd pick for Anderson
Khudobin for literally anything
If the Stars were willing to retain half VGK should consider that.
Stars don’t have too. Vegas is desperate.
VGK needs cap space to sign their RFA RD
VGK isn’t really in a position to expect a team to retain squat for their benefit. Not without paying an even higher premium. As it stands they have a salary dump in their future, and in their boots, I’d consider dealing off Karlsson for the ever-popular future considerations. He’s a good player, of course, but he’s not remotely worth $6MM AAV.
If he’s not worth $6MM then future considerations won’t get it done. They would have to throw in a sweetener.
Well, they have the cap space but trading for a goalie is going to hurt. It Will probably start with Hague and go up from there. They could offer sheet oettinger though.
Can they offer sheet? They don’t have a 2nd round pick of their own…doubt they would go full-crazy and use up a bunch of 1sts….
Can’t you just offer something else if you don’t have the requisite picks?
VGK needs cap space to sign their RFA RD
@darkside – you need to have the picks and they must be your own original picks to do an offer sheet
You know who has a good starting goalie?
The Minnesota Wild.
If only Vegas were lucky enough to have a goalie like that, but alas…
Wild are going to find out the man isn’t what he used to be soon.
I thought trading Lehner at the deadline for some cap space and to acquire a rental for a solid push at Lord Stanley would be a good play.
Thompson is ready to be the full time starter.
But this injury may work out for them with an extra $5mill in cap space?
Who shall they sign now to plug in that hole after Max got traded?
… Kessel? …. Kadri?
Dang, I think I made a comment yesterday about the goaltending holding up… that aged very well.
Their rival in San Jose will trade them a goalie…..for a more than reasonable price. LOL
Not Lehner’s fault, of course, but this is a textbook example of the phrase, “Karma is a bitch.”
Eichel’s gonna love playing for his new rebuilding team. That sure was worth the hassle right?
Hey Vegas, miss flower much?
Kyle Davidson on line 1. Mrazek anyone?
This is actually a decent idea….
Should have cut his ass.. he couldn’t stop a frisbee