Ed Note: If you’re following along at home, we’ve skipped over a few players here, mostly due to my own inability to follow a schedule. Stephanie is far more on top of it, and had hers done early, which makes her awesome. We’ll come back to Legwand and Larsson next week. – Andy
Age: 24
Contract: Lehner signed a 3-year deal with Ottawa in 2014 that will pay $3.15M in the 2016-17 season. He will then become an RFA.
Introduction: Robin Lehner was slotted to be the star, and starter, for Buffalo this season. However, he spent much of the season off the ice with two separate stints to nurse the same high ankle sprain he suffered in the season opener. Lehner was acquired, with David Legwand, in June 2015 in exchange for the 21st overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.
Key Stat: In 2015-16, 21 games, 5-9-5; 2.47 GAA, .924SV%, 1SO
Thumbs Up: Lehner is big, he’s athletic, and he is INTENSE. I mean, we’re talking about a guy who was well-known in Ottawa for having pet piranhas named after members of the media. He’s still relatively young, and his numbers have gotten better (relatively) as he’s come up into his time in the NHL, but …
Thumbs Down: … no one really knows what a full NHL season from Robin Lehner looks like. We can imagine, but until we actually see it, it’s almost impossible to guess. His health seems to be an issue, and the price Tim Murray and the Sabres paid for him was very high for a chronically injured netminder.
Memorable Moment: Lehner earned his first shutout as a Buffalo Sabre on February 19, against the Columbus Blue Jackets. And we got to see the incredible Robin Lehner Death Glare, which I’ll be happy to never be on the other end of.
Do not mess with our goaltender. #Lehner pic.twitter.com/vxFd3TSac3
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) February 20, 2016
Voting: Using the good old grade school system of A, B, C, D, F, with A representing a great season (for the Sabres) C an average season, and F a very poor season, grade Robin Lehner on his performance this year.
Grade Robin Lehner on his 2015-16 season.
| A | 42 |
| B | 357 |
| C | 391 |
| D | 113 |
| F | 36 |