The Buffalo Sabres and goaltender Robin Lehner agreed on a one-year contract this morning, avoiding arbitration. The team announced the deal on their official twitter account. According to Steve Whyno, the deal is worth $4 million.
The Sabres have agreed to terms with goaltender Robin Lehner on a one-year deal. pic.twitter.com/S3mAYKuvCn
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) July 25, 2017
#Sabres re-sign goaltender Robin Lehner: 1 year, $4 million.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) July 25, 2017
Robin Lehner Re-Signs With Buffalo Sabres
Robin Lehner finished his second year as starting goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres last season. Lehner played a career high 59 games this season posting a 23-26-8 record. The 25 year old Swedish goalie also posted a 2.60 goals against average, a .920 save percentage and had two shutouts. The Buffalo Sabres struggled this season though, finishing in 26th place with a 33-37-12 record.
Robin Lehner was drafted in 2009 by the Ottawa Senators, in the second round, with the 46th overall selection. He spent two seasons with the club’s AHL affiliate team, the Binghamton Senators, where he was part of the Calder Cup championship team in 2011. Lehner got his first NHL start January 11th 2011 against the New York Islanders, he earned a win and allowed four goals on 24 shots.
It wasn’t until 2012-2013 that the Ottawa Senators gave him a real chance to play big league minutes. Lehner played 12 games that season, and played well with a 2.20 GAA and a .936 SV%. He began to struggle once he was handed a big work load though. When playing 36 and 25 games in the next two seasons he put up losing records and goals against average above three both season. The Senators decided they would stick with Craig Anderson as their starter and move Robin Lehner at the 2015 draft.
Acquisition By Buffalo
The Ottawa Senators traded Robin Lehner and David Legwand to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for the Sabres 21st selection in the first round of the 2015 draft. The Senators used that pick to select Colin White.
Lehner has posted his best numbers as a member of the Sabres. Both season he has posted goals against average of under three, and a save percentage above .930. Unfortunately he has had injury troubles with his new team though. In his very first game with the franchise, he left in the second period with a high ankle sprain injury. The injury kept him out form October until January. He also left the season in mid March to have season ending surgery to repair his ankle. Lehner was only able to play 21 games in the 2015-2016 season.
The 6’4″, 239lbs goaltender is a restricted free agent this summer after his previous three year deal expired. He signed the deal in 2014-2015 worth $2.25 million a year. If he can remain healthy he has the potential to be a solid starting goalie.
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